With the second booster shot still limited to specific sectors, the Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) on Friday urged the general public to eat healthy food to boost their immunity while waiting for their turn to get boosted against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“We should boost our immune system. Take Vitamin C, which comes naturally from eating fruits and vegetables, because it will help us to be on our feet,” Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, DOH-CAR assistant regional director, said in an interview.

Pangilinan reminded the public, even those who have already received the jab, that the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine wanes over time.

At present, people under the A1 category or health workers, the A2 or the senior citizens, and the A3 or those with co-morbid conditions are the only ones who could receive the second booster shot against Covid-19.

For the pediatric population, only those aged 12 years to 17 years are allowed to get the first booster shot.

“We can help protect ourselves by staying healthy and continuing to observe the minimum public health standards,” she said.

Pangilinan noted that at the height of the pandemic, fruits and vegetables were being given away to people.

“That should be the mindset, boost the immune system so that we don’t get sick of Covid or any other illnesses that may endanger our lives,” the doctor said, adding that people are more prone to sickness due to the cooler temperatures brought by the rainy season.

On Thursday, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) under the DOH launched the nutrition month celebration.

“We need to develop a healthy eating habit not only to avoid malnutrition but also prevent being infected with Covid,” Bella Basalong, the officer in charge of the NNC-Cordillera, said. “Kapag mas makulay ang pagkain, mas masustansiya (the colorful the food is, the healthier it is). The food we eat should be in moderation, has variation, and balanced.” (PNA)