Don’t rush to get third COVID-19 vaccine dose, experts urge public

Vaccine experts on Friday advised the public against rushing to get a third dose or second platform of a COVID-19 vaccine, stressing the need for equitable distribution.

Dr. Rontgene Solante of the Vaccine Expert Panel said there is no official recommendation yet for booster COVID-19 shots.

“Please don’t be in a hurry to get a third dose or a second platform…  let’s wait for the recommendation,” he said in a Health Department forum.

Solante also underscored that the focus must be on fully vaccinating as many people as soon as possible.

“That’s the importance of vaccine equity, for us to move on with this pandemic. Siguraduhin muna natin mabakunahan lahat (Let’s first ensure that everyone gets vaccinated) rather than thinking of getting the second platform of a vaccine because I can afford [it],” he said.

Dr. Isagani Padolina added that “if you say yes to something, you have to say no to something. Distribution is really limited, supply is really limited so let’s focus our efforts, let’s focus our communication on getting the first and second dose.”

The Philippines is set to conduct a study on the mixing of COVID-19 vaccine brands as well as booster shots. 

A United States official earlier said booster COVID-19 shots may be needed a year after the initial inoculation. 

Manila’s Ambassador to Washington, Jose Manuel Romualdez, has also announced that the Philippines reserved 50 million booster shots from Moderna for 2022. 

The Philippines has only vaccinated 6.2 million individuals as of June 20, still far from its target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year. — RSJ, GMA News