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Almost 7K immunocompromised individuals got 2nd COVID-19 vax booster in 1st week —NVOC

By JAMIL SANTOS,GMA News

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) on Saturday reported that a total of 6,702 immunocompromised individuals have received their second COVID-19 booster shots in the first week of the government's rollout. 

At the Laging Handa briefing, NVOC chairperson and Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje also said they do not yet have data on non-immunocompromised individuals who received their second booster.

Cabotaje said there are now 67.8 million fully-vaccinated individuals in the country as the government had delivered 146.7 million total jabs.

While 31.2 million persons have received their booster shots, Cabotaje said the rollout for the first booster was "quite slow."

"We have enough boosters for the second booster. Individuals who received their first booster could be given a second booster. The rollout of the first booster was quite slow," she said.

"We will have a sufficient supply for those willing to have their second booster if it will be opened up to other age groups," Cabotaje added.

Cabotaje said the NVOC will be studying whether to set up vaccination sites in precincts come election day.

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The Philippine government started administering the second COVID-19 booster shots for the immunocompromised on Monday, April 25.

The NVOC earlier said it was expecting that around 7,000 to 13,000 immunocompromised individuals will take their second COVID-19 booster doses during the first day of its rollout.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it was looking into reports that a hospital in the National Capital Region allegedly administered the second COVID-19 booster shots to health workers and senior citizens who are not immunocompromised.

The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) earlier recommended that the second COVID-19 booster shot be given to the immunocompromised first at this time. —KG, GMA News