DOH to apply for EUA on COVID-19 vaccines for booster, additional shots

The Department of Health on Monday said it would apply for an emergency use authorization on the COVID-19 vaccines that would be used for booster and additional shots for healthcare workers and senior citizens.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH submitted its letter of intent for the application of the EUA to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“So, nakapagpadala na po tayo ng initial na sulat sa FDA on our intent to apply on this emergency use authority. So nai-submit na ‘yan sa Food and Drug Administration,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(So, we’ve sent a letter of intent to apply for an emergency use authority to the FDA.)

Vergeire said the agency is working on completing the required documents.

“Kasama diyan ‘yung mga evidences to support that these kinds of practices katulad ng third doses or boosters are safe and effective for the population,” she said.

(This includes evidence to support that these kinds of practices such as the third doses or boosters are safe and effective for the population.)

She said they met with experts on Tuesday to discuss the vaccines that would be used.

The DOH gave the go signal for booster and additional shots of COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers and the elderly within the year, and eligible priority groups by 2022.

Mixing and matching, antigen tests

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the clinical trial on vaccine mixing and matching will be conducted in the country soon.

“So ito po ay clinical trial. Wala pa po tayong binibigay na rekomendasyon para mag mix and match para po sa mga bakuna natin ngayon. Wala pa tayo sapat na ebidensya kaya gumagawa tayo ng clinical trial,” she said.

(This is a clinical trial. We have yet to recommend the mixing and matching of vaccines. We don’t have enough evidence so we’re doing a trial.)

Vergeire also advised against the use of antigen tests for screening purposes.

“Ang antigen test po maganda po siyang diagnostic method if used in the proper or appropriate context,” she said.

According to Vergeire, antigen tests must only be used by symptomatic individuals and those who have been exposed to positive COVID-19 cases.

“So kapag ginamit natin sa mga ganitong paraan, ito ay magbibigay sa inyo ng accurate test result,” she said.

(If used this way, it will give accurate test results.)

“Pero pag ginamit natin, for example, sa screening po sa pag pasok sa trabaho… o kaya sa screening kasi a-aattend kayo ng event, baka hindi po ibigay sa inyo ‘yung tama na resulta,” she added.

(But if we use this, for example, screening for going to work or screening to attend an event, it may not give an accurate result.)

Vergeire warned of the “false negatives” in antigen testing.

“Once we will have false negative results, maaring may mga taong nakakasalamuha natin ngayon ngunit positive pala sila pero negatibo ang lumabas sa antigen,” she said.

(Once we will have false-negative results, we may interact with positive individuals who tested negative in their antigen tests.)

Meanwhile, the Philippines on Sunday reported 5,279 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,756,923 and active cases to 60,957. — DVM, GMA News