WHO guidance on booster jabs expected by December 7 —DOH

The Department of Health is expecting the completed recommendations of the World Health Organization-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on COVID-19 booster shots to be released as early as December 7.

At a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that  the recommendations may be released by December 7 or December 8.

“Now, if ever the SAGE recommendations will be out by December 7 and there would be additional recommendations within this document then we will be revising accordingly,” Vergeire said.

Pressed on the sufficiency of vaccine supply, Vergeire assured the public that the vaccination of the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals is still prioritized.

Earlier, the Philippines allowed fully-vaccinated adults to get booster shots  starting Friday, December 3.

“So ang nilagay natin diyan sa EUA and the guidelines, ‘yung priorities pa rin po ang ating susundin. The booster doses for 18 years old and above would be the least of our priorities sa nakalista doon,” she said.

(Under our emergency use authorization or EUA and guidelines are the priorities that we will follow. The vaccination of booster doses for 18 years old and above would be the least of our priorities.)

“We still prioritize those unvaccinated and those to receive their second dose atsaka ‘yung mga needing boosters talaga or third doses like the immunocompromised and senior citizens and healthcare workers,” she added.

Vergeire said they are expecting the vaccination of booster shots to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, Vergeire urged vaccination sites to refrain from administering boosters to individuals who have yet to complete the six-month interval after receiving their second dose.

“Ito po ay dapat itigil dahil hindi po natin alam, maaring magkaroon ng ibang reaksyon sa katawan ang ating mga kababayan dahil ibinibigay natin outside of the instructions or the guidelines given,” she said.

(We should stop this because we don’t know how it will affect the body.) —LBG, GMA News