Two Filipinos Test Positive for COVID-19 Despite Receiving Vaccine

Two Filipinos who returned to Cebu from abroad tested positive for COVID-19 despite getting vaccinated in their countries of origin, authorities said Thursday.

The first case, a 43-year-old OFW from Dubai, got two full doses from China's Sinopharm. The second case, a 25-year-old woman, got just one of two doses of the Pfizer jab, said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of the DOH Central Visayas. 

Loreche said the man's COVID infection despite getting the vaccine does not necessarily mean it was not effective. In fact, it's somehow proof that the vaccine is working, as he remained asymptomatic and did not develop any clinical disease.

The gray area however is with the transmission, as there are no solid scientific studies yet with regards to its length of immunity, she said. 

"I would not call it a failure of a vaccination, and there's an important thing that we also think about and that is immunity can kick in later," she said. 

"This is actually a very beautiful story of how each one of us should be vaccinated," she said.

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Upon arrival in Cebu last Jan. 5, the man was subjected to mandatory 14-day quarantine in a facility notwithstanding his vaccination record, as per protocols, which he completed by Jan.  20, she said, although no swabbing was conducted then. 

As the man had to go back to UAE for his work, he underwent swab testing on February 8. Next-day results showed he was positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic. 

"Four out of seven household members were positive for COVID-19. All are currently under isolation,” Loreche said, noting that it is "too early to tell if they got it from him". 

The other returning Filipino who had been vaccinated with one dose of Pfizer's COVID vaccine also tested positive for COVID in Cebu. The 25-year-old woman did not get the required second dose.

An antibody test will be conducted to identify her level of immunity from the virus. 

"Kahit na may bakuna na, it's not a miracle cure. So the new normal is vaccination plus the continuance of what we are doing currently, which is the wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and handwashing. This is the new normal, this is how we must live already," Loreche said.

This story originally appeared on Reportr.World. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.