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DOH lists conditions immunocompromised individuals must have to qualify for 3rd dose
By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO,GMA NewsThe Department of Health (DOH) on Friday specified the conditions that immunocompromised individuals must have in order to be eligible for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a message to reporters, the DOH said immunocompromised individuals must have either of the following conditions:
* Autoimmune disease
* Cancer/Malignancy
* Transplant patients
* Undergoing steroid treatment
* Patients with poor prognosis/ bedridden patients
“So very specific tayong naglagay ng ganyan doon sa ating mga guidelines dahil ito po ay adopted natin sa rekomendasyon din ng WHO-SAGE,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.
(We specifically included this in our guidelines since we adopted the recommendation of the World Health Organization-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.)
“Ito po ay nakapaloob din doon sa ating emergency use authority,” she added.
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(This was also included in our emergency use authority.)
Vergeire said immunocompromised individuals must be cleared by their doctors before getting a third dose.
According to Vergeire, the DOH met with the All Experts Group on Thursday evening to discuss the guidelines for the inoculation of senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals with third doses.
The Philippines on Wednesday began the inoculation of fully vaccinated healthcare workers with booster doses. Vergeire said the inoculation of senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals would follow.
“Gagawin lang po namin ‘yung guidelines and we will be announcing through our national vaccine operations cluster kung kailan po maguumpisa ang pagbabakuna ng booster or third doses para sa ating nakakatanda o A2 and those individuals with immunocompromised states,” she said.
(We will just craft the guidelines and we will be announcing through our national vaccine operations cluster when we will start the inoculation of boosters and third doses for our seniors and individuals with immunocompromised states.)
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. previously said the Philippines may start inoculating seniors and persons with comorbidities with additional doses by next week.
Booster shots are given when immunity is starting to wane after several months since receiving the vaccine, while additional doses, or third doses, are given to individuals who cannot mount the appropriate immunity against the sickness. — VBL, GMA News