The Philippines plans to lower to three months the interval period before a fully-vaccinated individual can receive a booster shot against COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.
But until the policy is changed, it is status quo for the DOH: Fully-vaccinated individuals may get their booster shots after six months for several vaccine brands and three months for the Janssen vaccine.
"They are looking into it. So we will submit to the vaccine expert panel what would be the totality advantage of giving earlier booster shots,” Duque told CNN Philippines in an interview.
“Saying instead of six months from the second dose of primary series, what if we did it three months after the second dose? Would that confer much better, much higher protection?” Duque said.
The country began the inoculation of healthcare workers with booster shots on November 17 while seniors and immunocompromised individuals started receiving booster shots on November 22.
Starting December 3, the government started administering booster shots to all fully-vaccinated adults.
Meanwhile, the public will be welcome to walk in and get inoculated against COVID-19 in any government vaccination site during the second round of the three-day “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” drive.
In an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, National Task Force Against COVID-19 special adviser, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, said the program, scheduled from December 15 to 17, would have dedicated areas for those who have a scheduled appointment and walk-ins.
“No one will be allowed to leave without getting vaccinated during the national vaccination days. So, if they visit, they have to be vaccinated,” Herbosa said.
While unvaccinated senior citizens and those aged 12 years to 17 years are still the main priority, all eligible individuals will be vaccinated, including those seeking a booster shot, he said.
“There will be an area for booster shots, second shots, and the priority first shots. Because we’re still prioritizing the elderly,” Herbosa said.
But he noted that only a few members of the public were eligible for booster shots as these have only been approved for those who have received both doses six months ago, or three months for those given the Janssen single-dose vaccine.
He warned that the threat of the Omicron variant was "real” and noted the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in South Africa, which necessitates continued vaccination efforts against the disease.
“Luckily, the mortality rate is not as bad, even the WHO (World Health Organization) said it's milder. But still, people get infected. It's highly transmissible. So, the best defense is still getting your vaccines,” Herbosa said.
While the supply of syringes and other ancillaries became a problem during the first mass vaccination program, he said the country has since secured more as part of the preparations made by the National Vaccination Operations Center.
“(The NVOC) is making sure that all the vaccines delivered have the concomitant ancillary supplies,” Herbosa said.
In related developments, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año clarified that the 23 cities in the country with at least 70 percent vaccination coverage had reached only population protection and not herd immunity.
“I would like to correct that — that is not yet herd immunity but population protection because more than 70 percent of the target population [priority groups] are already vaccinated,” he said.
Gov’t planning to give booster shots 3 months after 2nd dose—DOH
The Philippines plans to lower to three months the interval period before a fully-vaccinated individual can receive a booster shot against COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday.
At present, fully-vaccinated individuals may get their booster shots after six months for several vaccine brands and three months for the Janssen vaccine.
“Yeah, they are looking into it. So we will submit into the vaccine expert panel what would be the totality advantage of giving earlier booster shots,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told CNN Philippines in an interview.
“Saying instead of 6 months from the second dose of primary series, what if we did it three months after the second dose? Would that confer much better, much higher protection,” Duque said.
The country began the inoculation of healthcare workers with booster shots on November 17 while seniors and immunocompromised individuals started receiving boosters shots on November 22.
Starting December 3, the government started administering booster shots to all fully-vaccinated adults.
The public will be welcome to walk in and get inoculated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in any government vaccination site during the second round of the three-day “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” drive.
In an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, National Task Force Against Covid-19 special adviser, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, said the program, scheduled from December 15 to 17, would have dedicated areas for those who have a scheduled appointment and walk-ins.
“Walang pauuwiin during the national vaccination days na hindi nabakunahan. So, kapag pumunta sila dun, dapat mabakunahan sila on that day (No one will be allowed to leave without getting vaccinated during the national vaccination days. So, if they visit, they have to be vaccinated),” Herbosa said.
While unvaccinated senior citizens and those aged 12 years to 17 years are still the main priority, all eligible individuals will be vaccinated, including those seeking a booster shot, he said.
“May area ka for the booster shots, the second shots, and the priority first shots. Kasi ipa-priority mo pa rin yung mga senior citizens (There will be an area for booster shots, second shots, and the priority first shots. Because we’re still prioritizing the elderly),” Herbosa said.
He, however, noted that only a few members of the public are eligible for booster shots as these have only been approved for those who have received both doses six months ago, or three months for those given the Janssen single-dose vaccine.
He warned that the threat of the Omicron variant is “still real” and noted the significant increase in Covid-19 cases in South Africa, which necessitates continued vaccination efforts against the disease.
“Luckily, the mortality rate is not as bad, even the WHO (World Health Organization) said it's milder. But still, people get infected. It's highly transmissible. So, the best defense is still getting your vaccines,” Herbosa said.
While the supply of syringes and other ancillaries became a problem during the first mass vaccination program, he said the country has since secured more as part of the preparations made by the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).
“(The NVOC) is making sure that all the vaccines delivered have the concomitant ancillary supplies,” Herbosa said.