Concepcion urges HTAC to allow second COVID-19 boosters for workers

Business leader and former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion is urging the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to allow the private sector to administer second COVID-19 booster shots on their workers as over one million vaccine doses are set to expire by the end of July.

Concepcion, who is part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos’ Private Sector Advisory Council, on Tuesday said 1,516,040 vaccines are expiring by month’s end.

“If you look at these expiring vaccines, that’s a lot of money,” Concepcion said at the virtual “Pandesal Forum.”

The expiring vaccines were acquired by the private sector through the tripartite agreement “A Dose of Hope,” he said.

Each AstraZeneca jab is estimated to cost at least $5 each, while Moderna shots were bought for around $27 for each dose, according to Concepcion.

He said that the total expiring vaccines in warehouses are broken down as follows:

• Moderna - 887,360
• AstraZeneca - 628,680

Under the tripartite agreement, half of the vaccines acquired are shared with the government.

“The private sector has already proven that it is willing to get vaccinated. There is no need for mandates when it comes to the private sector. They don’t want to get sick and use up their sick leaves,” Concepcion said.

The business leader said he is asking that second boosters be allowed to protect members of the workforce who are still not allowed to take second boosters.

The HTAC, a body tasked with providing guidance to the Department of Health (DOH) on the coverage of health interventions and technologies to be funded by the government, has recommended that only healthcare workers, the immunocompromised, and persons above 60 years old can take second booster vaccinations against COVID-19.

“Where we are concerned, and I think everybody should be concerned, is the economy,” Concepcion said.

“The vaccines are our most important weapon here,” he added. “Resolving issues with policy on second boosters and takeup will help the private sector in its future vaccine procurement.”

Concepcion said that several countries around the world have found that persons younger than 60 can benefit from second boosters, and suggested that the country follow the lead of those who have studied the merits of second boosters, such as Australia and Canada’s Ontario province.

US health officials are planning to allow second COVID-19 boosters for all adults, with the US Food and Drug Administration making second boosters a high priority to include those outside of their previous recommendations for persons 50 years and older and those 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, according to Concepcion.

“Shouldn’t we follow these countries? The vaccines we are using came from these countries,” he reasoned.

“The vaccines should be used rather than left to expire,” Concepcion added. “Many productive members of the workforce fall outside of the age limit set by the HTAC. Yet they also have risk factors and are exposed to the virus every day when they come to work.” — DVM, GMA News