A health expert on Wednesday said two doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine are “strongly protective” against the highly transmissible Delta variant.

In an online media forum, Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-dela Paz, University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health Executive Director, said an individual who received the first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer is 33 percent less at risk of developing Covid-19 symptoms caused by the Delta variant.

Dela Paz was citing data from the Public Health England study.

The same study showed that a second shot of AstraZeneca boosted defense against the Delta variant by 60 percent while a second dose of Pfizer provided 88 percent more protection.

Meanwhile, a Lancet study indicated people inoculated with Covid-19 jabs are less likely to be hospitalized due to the Delta variant compared to unvaccinated individuals.

“Samakatuwid, pareho po uulitin namin na importante pa rin pong magpabakuna dahil ‘yan pa rin po ang ating malaking pang-depensa kung ano man pong variant ay mayroon (We will say it again, it is important to be vaccinated because that is our biggest defense against any variant),” Dela Paz said.

Apart from receiving Covid-19 shots that are available now, Dela Paz said the spread of Delta variant or any variant of concern may be prevented with strict compliance to public health protocols such as wearing a mask and face shield, keeping at least one meter distance from others and proper washing of hands.

University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health Executive Director Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-Dela Paz notes 98 percent of sequenced cases in the United Kingdom are Delta variant while 96 percent of the sequenced samples in Portugal account for it.

The Delta variant which was first detected in India has spread to 85 countries.

Earlier, the World Health Organization described it as the fastest and fittest coronavirus strain yet – “picking off” the most vulnerable individuals especially in areas with low vaccination rates.

As of June 14, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 31 percent of the cases in the country are from the Delta variant.

“Ang original virus, ang isang tao makakahawa ng dalawa, ‘yung alpha makakahawa ng mga apat pero yung Delta ang isa makakahawa hanggang walo, so parang dumoble siya (With the original virus, a case can infect two persons, with the Alpha variant a case can infect four but with the Delta variant a case can infect up to eight people, so it doubled) from the Alpha variant,” dela Paz said.

She added that initial global studies showed the Delta variant may be manifesting different symptoms.

Reports from southeast China disclosed patients who are sick with the variant are deteriorating more quickly.

Meanwhile, health experts in the United Kingdom showed it has shown changing symptoms among participants of a symptom study who complained of headache as its number one symptom.

“And they also saw that more younger people are being infected who often mistake it for a bad cold, they’re more likely not to self-isolate, in the UK,” dela Paz said.

Compared with those infected with Alpha variant, patients with Delta variant in England and Scotland are twice more likely to need hospitalization.

Moreover, a study from Singapore noted people with Delta variant infection have a higher need for oxygen supply and intensive care unit admission and are more at risk of death.

“People with underlying conditions or comorbidities were at greater risk to be hospitalized,” dela Paz added.

Delta variant in PH

As of June 17, the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) reported a total of 17 cases with Delta variant.

The variant was first detected in the country on May 11 with 13 cases – all from returning Filipino travelers.

“Yang Gamma at Delta wala pa tayong nade-detect na community transmission sa ating bayan (We haven’t detected a community transmission of Gamma and Delta variant here),” dela Paz said.

Of 7,589 samples sequenced by the PGC, the Beta variant first seen in South Africa logged the most number of cases at 1,267 and it is followed by the Alpha variant first seen in the UK with 1,085 cases.

As for the variant of interest, the PGC said the Theta variant has 163 cases. (PNA)