The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has shortened the interval period of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to three months, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
Under the new guideline, those 18 years old and above could get booster shots three months after the second dose of a primary two-dose vaccine or at least two months after the primary single-dose vaccine is given.
“We are exploring all possible options to mitigate the effects of more transmissible variants of COVID-19 safely. The approval came at an opportune time as several countries also re-strategized in light of the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants that may emerge,” the DOH official said.
Duque noted the importance of prioritizing vaccination among the unvaccinated.
“We call on our local government units to encourage their constituents to get vaccinated, especially the unvaccinated senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions who are more vulnerable to having severe COVID-19,” Duque said.
“Ensuring enough coverage of the primary series while adhering to the minimum public health standards are crucial if we want to maintain low to minimal risk classification and have adequate health systems capacities, especially during the holiday season,” he added.
FDA okays three months intervals for booster shots
Under the previous guideline, fully-vaccinated individuals may be vaccinated with booster shots after six months for some vaccine brands and three months for the Janssen vaccine.
The Philippines started giving booster shots to medical frontliners on November 17. Seniors and immunocompromised individuals started receiving boosters shots on November 22.
All fully vaccinated adults were given booster shots on December 3.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino urged the Department of Health (DOH) to vaccinate qualified Filipinos in evacuation centers in the areas devastated by typhoon Odette.
According to Tolentino, the DOH should take the opportunity to vaccinate many Filipinos who are temporarily staying in evacuation centers.
The senator stressed that the DOH should take advantage of the vaccination of those in evacuation centers in Naga, Cebu, and even Bohol and not wait until Wednesday to register again because they are already there to be vaccinated.
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