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Now that a lot Filipinos are already fully vaccinated, the top questions in people's minds are whether it is safe to get a COVID-19 booster shot and if it's really needed at all.

A booster shot is an additional dose that is injected after he or she has been fully vaccinated. It is usually inoculated months after one receives his or her last dose. Its main purpose is to increase our immunity against the specific disease it protects us from, after the protection from the initial vaccination wanes.

During the Momergency segment of 'Mars Pa More,' Dr. Rontgene Solante, Infectious Diseases Specialist at San Lazaro Hospital, shed light about the much-talked-about COVID-19 booster shot.

“So, sa ngayon, mayroon pa tayong ginagawang pag-aaral kung (kanino) lang talaga magiging beneficial ang booster dose,” Dr. Solante said during the interview. “Hindi lahat kailangan ng booster dose at this point in time.”

He also talked about the ideal time to get a booster shot against COVID-19 and who should be prioritized.

“Sa mga pag-aaral ngayon, like may mga bakuna ngayon na eight months after, bumababa ang protection.

“So, may mga bansa na kagaya ng United States na talagang nagbibigay na talaga ng mga booster or third dose doon sa mga population nila.

“'Yung ibang bansa naman, doon sa mga 60 years old and above para lang ma-maintain ang protection. Dahil ito 'yung mga may edad na talagang mataas ang risk na magka-severe COVID.”

Mosang and Camille Prats discusses the COVID-19 booster shot with Dr. Rontgene Solante / Source: Mars Pa More

Moreover, Dr. Solante addressed the controversial question of whether it is safe to get a different brand of vaccine for your booster shot.

“Unang-una, wala namang namamatay sa bakuna, One thing for sure, hindi ka mamamatay dahil minix mo, noh?

“May nakita na tayong data na kapag minix mo ang dalawang bakuna, mas mataas ang reaction.

“Sa mga data ngayon, mas mataas pa ang pain doon sa site ng injection at baka mas tumatagal din 'yung lagnat or 'yung sinat-sinat na makukuha mo 'pag imi-mix mo itong mga bagong bakuna."

He also said that although the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children below 12 years old is still being thoroughly studied, there are other ways in which we could keep them safe in the meantime.

“Ang importante sa mga bata, since wala naman silang dahilan din na lalabas, nandiyan lang sa bahay, pero ang importante diyan 'yung mga nag-aalaga sa mga bata, dapat bakunado. Para at least protektado ang mga bata at hindi makakuha ng COVID.”

You can watch the important and timely conversation in full in the 'Mars Pa More' video above.

If the video above is not loading properly, you may watch it HERE instead.

For more features like this, tune in to 'Mars Pa More' from Monday to Friday, at 8:50 a.m. on GMA.

Viewers abroad can also watch 'Mars Pa More' via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Check out these Filipino celebrities who are already vaccinated against COVID-19.