Duque OKs second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised; rollout seen next week

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said he has already approved the rollout of second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised persons.

"Sa ngayon ang aking inaprubahan batay sa rekomendasyon ng Health Technology Assessment Council ay yung second booster dose para lamang sa mga immunocompromised na mga pasyente," Duque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Duque said these patients include those who have cancer, recipients of organ transplants, and HIV/AIDS patients, among others.

"Lalabas ito lahat sa ating implementing guidelines na binubuo na ngayon sa kasalukuyan, para next week ay ma-rollout na natin ito," he said.

Duque stressed that frontline healthcare providers and senior citizens are not yet covered by the expected rollout of second booster shots next week.

"Yung para sa A1 or healthcare workers at doon naman din para sa senior citizens, pag-aaralan at susuriin pa ng ating Health Technology Assessment Council," he said.

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.

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