COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Gov't eyes to roll out 2nd booster shot in NCR on April 20 —NVOC

The government preparing to roll out the second anti-COVID booster shot for specific populations in the National Capital Region (NCR) by April 20, a top Health official said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Health Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said they expect that the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) will release the guidelines this coming week for the second booster shot for senior citizens, immunocompromised, and frontline health workers.

“We want to start this on April 20 sana sa NCR muna, but we will have to wait for the HTAC. Kung lumabas ng Monday, ayusin lang natin ‘yung guidelines sa ngayon kung ano ‘yung aaprubahan ng ating Secretary kung ano ‘yung final recommendation,” she said.

(We want to start this on April 20 in the NCR first, but we will have to wait for the HTAC. If it comes out on Monday, we just clear up the guidelines according to what our Secretary will approve and what the final recommendation would be.)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization (EUA) for second booster shots for specific groups, DOH said on Wednesday.

According to the Health department, the second booster dose will be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster, with the FDA recognizing waning immunity of specific populations.

Cabotaje said they are coordinating their various stakeholders and medical specialists regarding the additional booster, especially for the immunocompromised.

“We will confer, coordinate sa ating mga ontologists, sa mga may cancer, especially sa ating infectious disease specialists para din ma-enrich ‘yung ating guidelines and so that other will be confident that our guidelines ay akma sa irere-commend ng mga experts,” she added.

(We will confer or coordinate with our oncologists, those with cancer, especially with our infectious disease specialists to also enrich our guidelines, and to boost the confidence because the guidelines are in line with what the experts recommend.)

In a separate dzBB interview, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said the implementing rules and regulations for the second booster might be released this week.

“‘Yung hindi makakakuha, may proteksyon pa rin kayo. ‘Wag kayo mag-alala, may proteksyon pa rin kayo dulot nung first booster,” he said.

(Those who fail to get the second booster, you still have protection. Don’t worry, you still have protection from the first booster.) —LBG, GMA News