FILE PHOTO: CHINESE EMBASSY
MANILA, Philippines — Chinese drug firm Sinovac BioTech has expressed intention of donating 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to be administered as third doses or booster shots for health workers in the Philippines, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.
“Sinovac they are also recommending for a donation of 500,000 doses. They want to donate 500,000 doses na booster,” he said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
Personally, Galvez said he sees no problem in administering booster shots in the country, especially for health workers and persons with comorbidities given Sinovac shots.
This is to give them full protection against COVID-19 and its variants, he explained.
The Philippine government has asked the World Health Organization to reconsider its guidelines for booster shots and allow it for health workers, Galvez said.
The WHO has said there is no need for COVID-19 booster shots for now since the most vulnerable people worldwide should be fully vaccinated first.
The Department of Health earlier said it may consider giving booster shots in 2022 as the vaccine experts’ panel has yet to give its recommendation on the matter.
The government has likewise allotted funds for the future purchase of booster shots in the proposed 2022 national budget.