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Solante urges 2nd booster vaxx to maintain wall of immunity vs. COVID-19


Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante on Thursday encouraged the general population to get the second booster jabs in order to maintain the country’s wall of immunity against the still lingering COVID-19.

This came after Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire's announcement that healthy adults aged 18 and above would now be allowed to receive the second COVID-19 booster shots, pending the implementing guidelines which are expected to be issued within the week.

Solante said people who received their first booster shots at least six months ago may no longer have enough protection against the coronavirus disease.

“Malaking bagay ‘yun na pinahintulutan na natin na mabigyan ng second booster ang general population dahil alam din naman natin, although lower risk ang general population to get the severe form, pero they are also part of the population para ma-maintain natin ‘yung population wall of immunity,” the doctor said.

(It’s a big thing that we already allowed the general population to be given a second booster because we know that, although the general population has a lower risk of getting the severe form, they are also part of the population to maintain the wall of immunity.)

Solante explained that the second booster would give the public 60% to 70% protection against severe infections of COVID-19. 

Vaccine brands Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca will be used for the second booster inoculation, according to Vergeire.

Latest data from the DOH showed that at least 78.4 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 23.8 million individuals have received their booster shots. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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