FDA approves EUA for second booster shot for seniors, immunocompromised, health workers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization (EUA) for second booster shots for the senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health frontliners, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

“The DOH confirms receiving additional emergency use authorization from the FDA to administer an additional COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to all senior citizens 60 years old and above, the immunocompromised, and frontline healthcare workers,” DOH said in a statement.

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

“For moderately and severely immunocompromised patients, the 2nd booster could be given earlier subject to the attending physician's assessment,” DOH said.

The National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is now drafting guidelines for implementation of the second booster dose roll-out, they added.

EUA is an authorization issued for unregistered drugs and vaccines in a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

DOH last Friday said that it requested the FDA to amend the EUA of COVID-19 vaccines to allow the fourth dose for priority population and booster shot for 12 to 17 years old children. —NB, GMA News