Gov’t plans to roll out booster shots, third dose on Nov. 15

Secretary Carlito Galvez during one of President Rodrigo’s Talk to the People address. Screengrab from Facebook / PCOO / FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The government is targeting to roll out COVID-19 booster shots and third doses on November 15, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People on Wednesday, Galvez said that the planned rollout is still in accordance with the recommendation of the policy team and revision of emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Sa atin po, pinagpaplanuhan na rin po natin dahil marami na po tayong bakuna ‘yung more or less 49 million, pinagpaplanuhan na rin po natin ‘yung tinatawag nating booster doses at third dose rollout,” he said.

(We are planning to rollout booster doses and third doses since we have more or less 49 million COVID-19 vaccines.)

“Ang ating [Our] projected implementation is November 15 pero maghihintay po tayo ng ating [but we will wait for] guidance from the policy team and also we will wait ‘yung [for the] awaiting revision ng [of] EUA from FDA at saka po ‘yung [and the] policy team awaiting SAGE [Strategic Advisory Group of Experts] recommendation. Same thing po ‘yung ating [for the] third dose,” Galvez shared.

The vaccine czar also differentiated the booster shots from the third doses.

“Ang pagkakaiba po ng booster, ito po ’yung binibigay po natin outside from the primary doses. ‘Yung third dose po, ito po ay kasama na po sa primary doses because of ‘yung mababa ‘yung immune system,” he said.

(The difference between booster and third dose is the booster is given outside from the primary doses while the third dose is included in the primary series because of a weak immune system.)

The Phase I of the rollout is the booster shot for health workers. The government projects that 1.5 million health workers, with complete COVID-19 vaccine doses, will benefit from the implementation of this new plan.

Meanwhile, the Phase II will be the third dose rollout that is eyed to benefit 4.6 million senior citizens and undetermined number of immunocompromised individuals.

Guidelines for the implementation of these plans may be released on November 5, Galvez said.

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