AstraZeneca vaccine shows longest protection vs. severe COVID-19 infection —expert

The COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca has the longest effect in preventing severe COVID-19 infection compared with other vaccines, Vaccine Expert Panel chair Dr. Nina Gloriani said Monday.

Gloriani made the disclosure as she appealed to the public to refrain from seeking booster shots just yet even amid the emergence of more infectious Delta coronavirus variant.

During the day's Laging Handa briefing, Gloriani reiterated that all COVID-19 vaccine brands are effective for at least six to eight months, with AstraZeneca even reaching one year.

"That of Sinovac goes down in less than six months, but if there is a booster, it will go up again. Pfizer and Moderna, meron rin silang [they have] six months," she said.

"Janssen, they have a data [showing that in] eight months, the protection remains robust. Iyong AstraZeneca ang may pinakamahaba [na protection]. This is based on public data, not press releases. One year po sila," Gloriani added.

"Kaya huwag tayo magmadali sa pagbo-boost [So let us not rush into getting booster shots]."

Based on Philippine Food and Drug Administration's evaluation, AstraZeneca's efficacy rate is at 70% after the first dose, a rate that increases to 90% after the second dose is given four to 12 weeks after.

The Philippines has at least 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far. Of this number, 7.84 million doses account for AstraZeneca.

Around half of the country's COVID-19 vaccine supply is from Chinese vaccine manufacturer Sinovac.

Last week, the Quezon City government filed complaints against two individuals who received booster shots in the city despite already being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Following this, the Metro Manila Council passed a resolution calling for the crafting of an ordinance against unlawful use of government-procured vaccines as booster shots, as supplies in the country remain limited. —KBK, GMA News