DOH to release guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine boosters for 12 to 17-year-olds

The Department of Health (DOH) is set to release the guidelines for COVID-19 booster shot administration for children aged 12 to 17, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said on Friday.

Cabotaje said the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) had submitted its recommendation for booster shot for the age group.

“For the 12 to 17, mayroon ng recommendation ang HTAC for booster so nag submit na sila we are just looking at how to have the guidelines. Mabilis naman kami sa NVOC (National Vaccination Operations Center), we will release the guidelines for booster [for] 12 to 17 years old,” she said during the DOH’s Back-to-Vax Champion COVID-19 vaccination event.

Cabotaje said the HTAC has not yet recommended the second COVID-19 booster shot to the general adult population.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, meanwhile, said that it was still being studied for the meantime.

“Yung rest of population ay pinagaaralan ‘yan sa kasulukuyan sinisiguro yung kaligtasan yung appropriateness ng ating booster dose (The rest of the population is being studied to ensure the safety the appropriateness of our booster dose),” Duque added.

The DOH earlier cautioned local government units that they would be held liable for adverse events or complications from general population second boosters.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the warning  after an individual supposedly received a second booster shot without meeting the criteria for the shot.

Under the emergency use authorization, only immunocompromised individuals, healthcare workers, and senior citizens were qualified for the second booster shot. —NB, GMA News