An economic advisor to the government on Wednesday said expiring COVID-19 vaccines would result in a loss of P40 billion for the country and urged citizens to get their booster shots to fend off a possible surge in new infections.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion also said the next government may not be keen on procuring more vaccines once the 27 million doses expire by the end of July.
“There could also be a situation when vaccines may not be available when and if we need them,” he added.
The country has 80 million doses at present, 27 million of which will expire in June and July.
Concepcion said the public must be on the lookout for a possible surge in the second half if the uptake of booster shots does not rise above the current 13.7 percent.
He also renewed the call for mobility restrictions for those who do not have booster shots, giving them until July 2022 to comply with the required third dose.
As of last tally, some 12,477,480 Filipinos or 13.86 percent have already received booster shots while fully vaccinated individuals have reached 66,652,616 or 74.05 percent.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the rollout of second booster shots for the elderly and the immunocompromised is expected to start in a week or two.
In a briefing, DOH spokesperson and Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency was still waiting for the final recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) regarding the fourth jab.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for second booster shots for senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health workers.
The DOH said the second booster dose will be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster.
Data from the Health Department revealed that at least 67 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, 1.5 million children immunized, and 9.1 million minors inoculated.
However, more than 36 million have yet to receive booster shots.
Health experts have said it is important for eligible adults to get a COVID-19 booster shot before the May elections to prevent a possible surge in cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Philippines earlier warned that if the country’s vaccination rate does not improve and compliance with minimum health protocols is relaxed, active COVID cases next month could reach 300,000.