NVOC working on 2nd booster for seniors, immunocompromised –Dizon

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) was working on administering a second COVID-19 booster shot for senior citizens and immunocompromised, National Task Force (NTF) deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said on Tuesday.

Asked during a joint press conference with the Philippine Medical Association if the proposed second booster shot for these groups would become a policy, Dizon said, “Yes, we fully support the recommendations of the Vaccine Expert Panel. From the very beginning, we have been working with VEP very closely,” he said.

“I think inaayos na ng NVOC ang pag-implement nyan at mangyayari na yan very soon,” he added.

(I think the NVOC is working on its implementation and it will happen very soon)

While acknowledging the importance of a second booster for these groups, Dizon said that the government still prioritized inoculating the unvaccinated and giving first boosters to senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) joined the government in conducting vaccinations at the clinics of their members.

“We do hope na we can extend our help pa to the grassroots level sa pamamagitan po ng ating mga doctor na nasa clinics at sa multispecialty clinics at saka sa mga industrial clinics,” PMA President Benito Atienza said during the press conference.

(We do hope that we can extend our help to the grassroots level through our doctors' clinics, multispecialty clinics, and industrial clinics.)

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the government allowed PMA members to join the COVID-19 vaccination effort to reach more unvaccinated people.

“We will now allow them to do the vaccination in their clinics kasi ang problema namin, katulad ng sinabi ni Secretary Vince, mahirap hanapin yung mga iba na either nag-iisip magpabakuna o walang time magpabakuna.” she said.

(We will now allow them to do the vaccination in their clinics because our problem, like Secretary Vince mentioned, it can be difficult to search for those who are still thinking about getting vaccinated or do not have time.)

— DVM, GMA News