COVID-19 booster shots can be discussed after 50% target vaccination reached, supplies stable —DOH

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday said administering booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines may be discussed after the country has vaccinated 50% of its target population and supplies are stable.

"Titingnan natin ang stability ng supplies natin... Kapag naabot na ang 50% vaccination sa lahat ng bahagi ng bansa, maaari nang pag-usapan ang booster shot," Vergeire said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We will look at the stability of [vaccine] supplies... If we reach 50% of our [target] vaccination in all parts of the country, then we can talk about booster shots.)

The DOH official said for booster shots, experts are referring to the same vaccines currently in use.

"Kapag tinignan ang booster doses, ang sinasabi na mga eksperto, it is the same vaccines that is affected by the Delta variant and so with other variants of concern," she said.

(When we look at booster doses, experts say it is the same vaccines that is affected by the Delta variant and so with other variants of concern.)

Although there are second-generation vaccines that might be procured, these are still undergoing clinical trial, she said.

"Sa ngayon, within the year, sabi ni [vaccine czar] Sec. Galvez, magtutuloy-tuloy na ang dating ng mga bakuna sa bansa. Simula Oktubre, tataas na ang mga supply," Vergeire said.

(As of now, within the year, according to [vaccine czar] Secretary [Carlito] Galvez, shipments of the vaccines will arrive in the country continuously. Starting October, our supply [of vaccines] will increase.)

The DOH official said the government is still eyeing to reach the 50% vaccination target.

"Within the year, ang objective natin ay population protection. Hindi naman natin ine-aim na talagang buong populasyon. Basta maabot ang 50% at mabigyan ang vulnerable sector and we can consider ang pagbibigay ng booster shot sa health workers at immunocompromised," Vergeire said.

(Within the year, our objective is population protection. We are not aiming to vaccinate the entire population. But as long as we reach 50% [of our target vaccination] and the vulnerable sector is vaccinated, we can consider giving booster shots to health workers and those who are immunocompromised.)

Last August 27, the DOH underscored that the use of a COVID-19 booster shot has not yet been recommended by experts despite its inclusion in the proposed budget for 2022.

“Equity and safety [are] what the government is trying to consider now. Hindi po natin sinasara ang pinto (We are not closing our doors to booster shots),” Vergeire said then during a briefing.

Meanwhile, the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) of the Department of Science and Technology may come up with a decision on the administration of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots next week, an official said Friday.

Galvez earlier said the government is negotiating with four manufacturers for the supply of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

He did not identify the manufacturers, although he said Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac is willing to donate 500,000 booster doses for medical workers.

Galvez said they are just waiting for the guidance of the World Health Organization, the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, and VEP.

The Duterte administration has requested for standby authority from Congress to buy P45.367 billion worth of booster doses next year. —KG, GMA News