COVID-19 booster shots are now available for fully vaccinated adults from 18 years old and above, starting today, December 3, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
All adults who are fully vaccinated at least six months and those who were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson at least three months are eligible to get booster shots.
DOH said that the matching of vaccine brands depends on the final assessment of the evidence submitted by the DOH All Experts Group (AEG) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 1.
People who were given shots from vaccine brands such as Pfizer, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Moderna may receive the same vaccine.
AstraZeneca or Pfizer shots can also be given to those vaccinated with Moderna, while those who were given Pfizer shots can choose between AstraZeneca or Moderna.
Pfizer or Moderna shots may also be given to those who were vaccinated by the AstraZeneca brand.
Sputnik V or Janssen shots can be boosted with AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna shots.
Operational guidelines on its implementation will be issued by the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).
DOH also said that studies to determine how long the booster shots can provide protection against COVID-19 are still ongoing.
Despite the availability of booster shots in the Philippines, Omicron, a new variant remains to be at large as World Health Organization (WHO) have classified it as a COVID-19 “variant of concern” after being first detected in South Africa.
PH’s current vaccination program
On November 17, the rollout of booster shots in the country started, catering to medical workers, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also stated that reaching those eligible aged 12 years old and above who are still unvaccinated should be prioritized.
“The primary series of vaccines far outweigh the incremental benefit of boosters. We have to prioritize giving the primary series of these COVID-19 vaccines to the unvaccinated so they, too, can receive the additional protection that vaccines provide against hospitalizations and deaths,” said Vergeire.
Discussions on vaccinating children aged five to 11 are still ongoing.
About 144 million out of 217 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that are expected to enter the country have already been delivered as of November.
As of November 30, only 33% of the Philippine population are reported to be fully vaccinated.
