DOH to update vaccination status definition for boosted individuals

Instead of redefining the term “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) is seeking to add the term “up to date” for individuals who have received their booster shots.

At a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cited the practice of the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“They did not redefine ang fully vaccinated individual. Instead ang ginawa nila naglagay sila ng another terminology which is 'up to date,'” she said.

(They did not redefine what a fully vaccinated individual is. Instead, they added another terminology that is "up to date.")

“Ibig sabihin fully vaccinated still ‘yung dalawang bakuna na natanggap mo for your primary series, kapag naka-receive ka ng booster, nakalagay ‘yun up to date ka doon sa iyong pagbabakuna,” she added.

(This means that you still need to complete your primary series to be considered fully vaccinated. If you receive your booster shot, it means you are up to date.)

Vergeire said they will issue an advisory on the terminology in the coming days.

“So in the coming days, we will be issuing out an advisory para po dito para informed ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan,” she said. — DVM, GMA News