NVOC: Health workers given option to choose vaccine brand for booster shots

Healthcare workers are allowed to choose whether they prefer getting vaccinated with the same COVID-19 vaccine brand or a different one, depending on availability, the  National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Wednesday.

In a memorandum, individuals categorized as Priority Group A1: Essential Workers in Frontline Health Services (A1.1 to A1.7) are eligible to be given a single COVID-19 booster dose, either a homologous or a heterologous dose.

A homologous booster dose means an individual will be inoculated with the same vaccine brand used in their primary series while a heterologous booster dose means an individual will be vaccinated with a different brand.

Under the same memorandum, the NVOC said Filipinos who were vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Gamaleya, and AstraZeneca for their primary dose series must wait at least six months before getting a booster shot.

Meanwhile, those who were vaccinated with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for their primary dose series must wait until three months.

For the heterologous booster dose, NVOC recommended the following brands:

• Sinovac (primary series) — AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna (booster) 
• AstraZeneca (primary series) — Pfizer, Moderna (booster)
• Gamaleya Sputnik V (primary series) — Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna (booster)
• Janssen (primary series) — AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna (booster)
• Pfizer (primary series) — AstraZeneca, Moderna (booster)
• Moderna (primary series) — AstraZeneca, Pfizer (booster)

Individuals who were inoculated with AstraZeneca are advised to get booster shots using different brands “due to the theoretical possibility of pre-existing immunity attenuating or weakening the immune response on the second or third dose.”

Meanwhile, the homologous booster dose for Sputnik and Jannsen vaccines is “not yet for implementation,” the NVOC said.

At present, Sinovac is only recommended as a homologous booster dose.

Only one booster dose will be given per individual, according to the DOH.

The NVOC said individuals seeking the inoculation of booster doses must present their valid identification card and the original vaccination card showing that they are fully vaccinated.

“The vaccination team shall ensure that the vaccine recipients are informed of the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of each boosting strategy prior to giving them the option to choose,” it said.

According to the NVOC, current evidence shows that heterologous vaccination is more effective and is recommended for the immunocompromised.

However, it said that recipients of homologous doses may experience fewer adverse events.

NVOC said individuals will fill out an informed consent form for booster dose as well as a screening form.

“The vaccination team shall provide another vaccination card for the given booster dose containing the appropriate data necessary,” it said.

Meanwhile, recipients with a previous history of adverse reactions after administration, such as the elderly, people with comorbidities, people prone to blood clots, myocarditis, and anaphylaxis, shall consult their attending physician for the recommended boosting strategy.

Sputnik not included as booster

Though Sputnik Light was approved to be used as booster shots and additional doses, the DOH said they cannot recommend its use due to lack of availability.

“The EUA tells us what combinations will be safe. However, the operational guideline was crafted based on realities on the ground, including the availability of vaccines,” the DOH said in a message to reporters.

“We cannot recommend it and let people expect it is available across the entire country, when in fact we have more limited doses of it versus other brands,” it added.

The Philippines on Wednesday launched the inoculation of fully-vaccinated healthcare workers with booster doses.

Volume of COVID-19 vaccine doses

In a Town Hall briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the same volume will be given for booster doses, except for the Moderna vaccine.

“‘Yung dose po natin ay the same dose as with the primary series except for Moderna. Ang Moderna po for booster doses will just be half of that dose that you have received in the primary series,” she said.

(The same dose will be given as with the primary series except for Moderna. Moderna will just be half of the dose that you received in the primary series.)

The following volumes will be administered:

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: 0.3 ml/dose
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: 0.25 ml/dose (half of the regular dose)
• Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine: 0.5 ml/dose
• AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: 0.5 ml/dose

NVOC chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said around 600,000 healthcare workers are due for booster shots as of the end of the month.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the country may start inoculating fully-vaccinated senior citizens and persons with comorbidities with additional doses by next week.

Booster shots are given when immunity is starting to wane off after several months since receiving the vaccine while additional doses, or the third doses, are given to individuals who cannot mount the appropriate immunity against the sickness. — RSJ/KBK/KG, GMA News