Experts in the country are still studying the possibility of giving a booster shot against COVID-19 amid the ongoing threat of such a disease.
This was said by infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana after allowing the provision of booster shots to selected sectors abroad.
According to Salvana, the United States is now allowed to give booster shots to its vulnerable population. However, he said he saw a decrease in the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 due to variants of concern, especially the Delta variant.
“For instance sa Israel, yung Delta parang bumaba yung clinical efficacy versus symptoms ng Pfizer down to 30 to 40 percent, bagama’t mataas pa rin yung protection against severe disease. Sa ngayon, pinag-aaralan pa kung kinakilangan talaga o kung mas magandang gamitin yung tinatawag na reformulated na mga bakuna,” said Salvana.
He said these are vaccines that are supplemented with antigen or proteins against Delta or other variants of concern.
“Pinag-aaralan na po ito, ang they are already in clinical trial,” he said.
According to Salvana, there is no competent evidence that the booster shot can help. Each vaccine, he said, continues to provide protection against serious illness.
Benefits of booster shot still being studied: health expert
“Pero meron breakthrough infection. And to address breakthrough infection, I think we will need yung reformulated vaccine. So hindi po makakadadgag yung third dose. Doon siguro sa mahinang immune system, mga matatanda na talaga, ‘yun ang pinag-aaralan, pero walang klarong ebidensiya para dito po,” he said.
He also said that the booster shot is being studied if there are possible side effects, so it needs to be balanced.
“Kung mag-third dose ka, tapos hindi naman klaro yung benefits, baka mas itataas mo lang ng konti yung panganib. More importantly, yung gagamiting booster shot sa iyo, pwedeng makapag-protect against severe disease yung hindi pa nababakunahan. Alam naman natin, kulang mga bakuna natin. So kinakailagan po talaga suriin ito nang maayos. Hindi lang talaga pwedeng basta-basta mag-booster tayo na hindi klaro yung benefits,” said Salvana.
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