DOH: Don't mix vaccines, get booster jab yet

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday cautioned the public against mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines and getting booster shots after a lawmaker admitted to getting four doses in total of the Pfizer and Sinopharm jabs.

San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora earlier disclosed that he got two “bootlegged” doses of the Sinopharm vaccine in December last year and received another two shots of the Pfizer jab as “boosters” upon his doctors’ advice. 

“Sana po wag muna po tayong mag-embark dito sa mixing and matching... O ‘di kaya nagpapa-booster dose dahil hindi pa po 'yan recommended ng ating mga eksperto,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

(Let’s not embark on mixing and matching or getting booster doses because those are not yet recommended by our experts.)

Vergeire previously explained that experts do not yet endorse getting a booster shot due to limited evidence. 

The local study on mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines, meanwhile, is facing delays due to supply constraints. Vergeire said the results of international studies on the matter are expected by the third quarter of the year. 

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded health workers to follow protocols set by the national government for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Vergeire stressed that the use of COVID-19 vaccines must comply with the emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Mag-iingat po tayo dahil ‘pag meron tayong violations sa mga ganito ay maaari tayong magkaroon ng sanctions,” she warned.

(Let’s be careful about this because if there are violations, there may be sanctions.)

The Philippines has inoculated over 9.6 million individuals out of its 70-million target population for COVID-19 jabs as of July 11.—LDF, GMA News