DOH open to administering COVID-19 booster shots to immunocompromised

By: Cathrine Gonzales - 3 years ago

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday it is open to administering COVID-19 booster shots to people with compromised immune systems as long as there is evidence for its safety and efficacy.

“Of course we will be always open as long as there is complete evidence, and actually that is part of the discussions of our experts,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if the DOH is open to administering booster shots for immunocompromised individuals, as what is now being considered by advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The DOH earlier said local experts do not recommend the provision of booster doses for vaccinated individuals, for now, citing incomplete evidence and the limited supply of vaccines.

However, Vergeire said the DOH has not yet closed its doors to this idea.

“We are not saying that we have closed the doors already to these booster shots. What I would like to explain is we constantly coordinate with our experts,” she said.

Vergeire also mentioned that there is no evidence yet that people inoculated with CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, would need booster doses.

“The studies across the globe would not include Sinovac yet. There is no conclusive evidence yet that you would have a booster for Sinovac. Also, there is no completed evidence even for the other types of vaccines using booster doses right now,” she added.