Experts: COVID-19 Booster shot likely for special patients only

Two members of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) on Thursday said COVID-19 booster shots will likely be recommended for use on special-need population segment only.

“We’re looking at that possibility [of using booster shots] especially in view of the reports of waning immunity, but we’re looking more at special populations,” VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani said in a Department of Health (DOH) forum.

Also, VEP member Dr. Rontgene Solante, said these special populations include people with HIV, cancer, and chronic kidney disease, the elderly, and those who are taking immunosuppressive drugs.

“These are the possible populations that the VEP will hopefully recommend kung kailangan nating i-booster (if we need booster shot),” he said.

Earlier, the DOH made clear that COVID-19 booster shots are not yet recommended by experts due to limited data. 

Other VEP members have also pointed out that the focus for now should be on vaccinating as many people as possible, instead of purchasing booster doses. 

Likewise, Malacañang had said there was no plan to give booster shots yet, even for health workers. 

Earlier this year, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the country would need P55 billion to purchase booster doses. 

As of July 25, the Philippines has inoculated over 11 million people, some 6 million of them are fully vaccinated. —LBG, GMA News