Gov't wants health workers to get booster shot before yearend

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday said the government is pushing for health workers' booster shot against COVID-19 by November or December this year.

Interviewed on ANC, Galvez pointed out that healthcare systems should be protected from the possible waning vaccination and surge of coronavirus variants.

“We’re pushing for this year kasi we don’t want to take the risk na magkaroon ng (of having a) waning vaccination and later magkaroon ng (having) casualties, fatalities,” he said.

“By November 15 or maybe December, we will start [giving booster shots] to health care workers,” he added.

Galvez pointed out that booster shots will only be offered to healthcare workers when the vaccination of target recipients in the country reaches 50%.

“We raised it to all experts group. We told them that we need to hurry up their decision considering that there are 10 countries already administering booster shots including Indonesia,” he said.

Earlier, Galvez 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 Philippine medical workers.

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