COVID-19 booster shots for seniors, with comorbidities may start on Monday

It is possible on Monday to start providing COVID-19 booster shots to senior citizens, and those with comorbidities, the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Thursday.

According to NVOC Chairperson Myrna Cabotaje, they are just finalizing the guidelines for vaccination of such groups, targeted to be released this coming weekend.

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“Iba ang protocols for health care workers, iba rin ang guidelines sa immunocompromised. Once mailabas ng NVOC ‘yon, we can start even next week,” said vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

Next year is expected to offer a booster for the A4 group or workers, A5 or poor, and other population members, according to Rontgene Solante of the government’s vaccine expert panel.

“For the general public, it’s a different scenario because the general public is at risk but not as high risk compared dito sa mga first three group of population,” said Solante.

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According to Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the vaccine expert panel, giving the booster to minors has not yet been discussed.

“Tatapusin muna nila iyong two doses, sa mga bata po kasi maganda ang immune response nila, mas mataas kaysa sa medyo may edad so hindi po tayo masyadong nagwo-worry ang waning immunity sa kanila,” said Gloriani.

COVID-19 booster shots for seniors with comorbidities may start on Monday

But according to the Department of Health and vaccine expert panel, vaccination of Filipinos who do not have at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine is still a priority.

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Of the target of 77 million Filipinos, only 32.5 million or less than half have the complete vaccine, while 40.1 million have the first dose.

“Marami pa rin tayong mga kababayan na hindi pa natuturukan ni isang klase ng bakuna. Kailangan tapusin muna natin ito,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

On Thursday, the number of hospitals vaccinating booster shots to their health workers increased Thursday after it started on Wednesday.

In some countries, such as Israel, “fully vaccinated” status against COVID-19 expires six months after a person is injected with a second dose.

So they need to get booster shots to re-enter restaurants, gyms, and other establishments.

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