DOH says taking COVID-19 booster shot not yet sanctioned amid solon’s 3rd, 4th dose

FILE PHOTO: A healthcare worker prepares a Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 7, 2021. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday it was not informed about the vaccination of San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora with not one but two COVID-19 booster shots, with a warning that taking booster shots at this time is not yet sanctioned.

Zamora earlier said in a press conference in San Juan that he was inoculated with the China-made Sinopharm vaccines, along with two other vaccine doses as booster shots.

He said this was because of the recommendation of his doctors due to his being “immunodeficient.”

But Vergeire said that local experts do not recommend the use of booster shots for now, as there is yet no sufficient evidence to prove the need for third or additional doses. The same goes for mixing and matching vaccines of different brands.

“Unang-una hindi kami nainform (First of all, we were not informed) about this matter. This was something they did between the individual and his physician,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online media briefing.

“Gusto lang po namin magpapaalala, ang mixing and matching and booster doses ay hindi pa nairerekomenda sa ngayon ng DOH at ng mga eksperto dahil hindi pa kumpleto ang ating ebidensya,” she added.

Earlier, Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the country’s Vaccine Experts Panel, said studies from other countries on the use of booster doses and the mix and match of vaccines may be released by the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Vergeire also reminded medical practitioners to follow government protocols on vaccination.

“Nagpapaalala po tayo sa ating mga physicians and medical professionals na sumunod tayo at mag-align sa protocols ng gobyerno,” she said.

(We are reminding medical professionals to follow government protocols.)

“Tandaan natin na mayroon tayong emergency use authority galing sa FDA (Food and Drug Administration), at kung ano nakalagay sa EUA, ‘yan ang magiging gamit ng bakuna. Mag-ingat po tayo dahil kapag mayroon tayong violations sa mga ganito ay maaari tayong magkaroon ng sanctions,” Vergeire added.

(Let us remember that we have emergency use authority from the FDA for the vaccines and whatever was indicated in the EUA, that will be the use of the vaccines. Let us be careful because if we commit violations, we may face sanctions.)

Last June, the FDA approved for emergency use the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm.

EDV