DOH: Philippines planning 3rd doses on WHO recommendation

The Philippines is already planning to give immunocompromised individuals their third vaccine dose against COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

“So lahat po ng ito, ang mga plano, it’s already underway,” Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

“Kailangan lang po natin makapaghintay din. Of course, we will need an EUA from the Food and Drug Administration before we can start implementing ito pong mga rekomendasyon na ito,” she added.

(We just need to wait. Of course, we will need an emergency use authorization or EUA from the Food and Drug Administration before we can start implementing the recommendation.)

DOH's announcement came after the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that immunocompromised individuals should be given an additional dose against the virus.

Vergeire also clarified that booster shots are given when immunity is starting to wane off after several months since receiving the vaccine.

On the other hand, additional doses, or the third doses, are given to individuals who cannot mount the appropriate immunity against the sickness.

“For example, itong mga third doses o itong mga hindi nakakapag mount ng appropriate immunity would be our immunocompromised individuals and, of course ‘yung senior citizens po natin, kino-consider po natin na sila po ay maaaring hindi rin makapag-mount ng appropriate immunity,” she said.

(For example, third doses, or those who could not mount appropriate immunity are our immunocompromised individuals and, of course, we are also considering our senior citizens.)

“Now, when it comes to boosters, ito po ‘yung kailangan may pag-aaral na nakakapagpakita na talagang bumababa na ‘yung immunity ng isang tao para ikaw ay bigyan ng booster shot,” she added.

(Now, when it comes to boosters, we need a study that proves that the immunity of an individual is really going down for them to receive a booster shot.)

Vergeire had said that there was no evidence yet proving that booster shots may provide complete protection against COVID-19.

She had also clarified that the DOH is not opposed to booster shots. —LBG, GMA News