Now that there is the first case of the COVID-19 Lambda variant in the country, what exactly is it, and how does it differ from other coronavirus variants?
The Lambda variant or C.37 was first detected in Peru in December 2020. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is still a variant of interest compared to the Delta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma “variants of concern” with the potential to affect the population.
According to the Department of Health, the Lambda variant has high transmissibility and is very similar to the Delta variant.
But the DOH clarified that the vaccines against COVID-19 are still effective against it.
“Wala ho tayong ebidensiya na resistant [ito] sa COVID-19 vaccine… Tinitingnan natin at pinag-aaralang maigi pero base po sa analysis natin sa mga datos across the countries na apektado nito, hindi naman po siya mas kumakalat compared to the Delta variant,” said DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Public health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon suggested that right now, the government should be preparing to give a booster shot to prevent the lethality of COVID-19 variants.
“‘Yung bakuna dapat i-revisit natin kung ano oorderin natin… Kaya dapat nandun na tayo sa pag-iisip kung ano gagawin natin, pag-isipan natin kung mag-booster tayo later on or mag-mix-and-match na tayo kasi ito na ang pinag-aaralan sa ibang bansa so dapat advance din ang ating thinking process,” said Leachon.
Lambda variant of COVID-19 more contagious
The Department of Health confirmed Monday that the first Lambda variant case in the Philippines is local.
“The patient is a local case, hindi po siya returning overseas Filipino base po sa further validation [She is not a returning overseas Filipino based on further validation],” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a radio interview.
The Lambda variant was seen in a 35-year-old woman.
According to Vergeire, the woman tested positive for COVID-19 on July 22.
The Lambda variant patient was also pregnant was expected to give birth in July.