Vaccine experts recommend booster shots for health workers, immunocompromised

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) has recommended the use of COVID-19 booster shots for healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday but noted that this suggestion is still up for review.

The VEP aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines if they will be used as booster doses, according to DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“They have given that recommendation na pwede naman [ang booster shots] sa healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals,” DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani confirmed they have made this recommendation.

“Yes, but [this] will be discussed at the All Experts Group of the DOH on Monday for finalization of recommendations,” she told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

Vergeire noted that the VEP is only one among various groups of experts that the government is consulting for the use of vaccines. She said the administration of booster shots will still be discussed with other groups of experts on Monday to talk about equity and efficiency in government spending.

But before the government may consider booster dosing, the country should first reach population protection or the vaccination of health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidity, according to Vergeire.

“Kapag pinag-usapan ang percentage ng population to be vaccinated, unang-una dapat ma-achieve natin ang population protection (When we talk about the percentage of the population that should be vaccinated, we should achieve population protection),” she said.

“So ‘yung mga eksperto po natin, tinatalaga na at least 50 percent sana ay nabakunahan na para hindi naman madis-enfranchise ‘yung mga taong hindi pa nababakunahan kahit isang dose kung tayo ay sasabak na sa booster dosing,” she added.

(Our experts say we should vaccinate at least 50 percent of the population so that those who have yet to receive at least one dose will not be disenfranchised if we will give booster doses.)

Experts earlier said they are not yet recommending the use of booster shots due to limited study on its efficacy and limited vaccine supply. However, talks about administering booster shots resurfaced amid reports on reduced efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines to coronavirus variants of concern. Health authorities, meanwhile, maintained that vaccines continue to offer protection against the severe form of the disease.

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