Senate panel pushes for P16-B add’l budget for 3rd vaccine doses, booster shot

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate finance panel is pushing for an additional P16-billion budget for the provision of third vaccine doses and booster shots in 2022.

In an online interview with reporters Tuesday, Senate finance panel chairman Senator Sonny Angara said the P16 billion will be lodged under the budget of the Department of Health (DOH).

Initially, the executive department proposed a P45.3-billion budget under the unprogrammed appropriations for the purchase of the booster shots.

“We added another P16 billion. So now it’s about P60 billion to P61 billion,” Angara said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the national government plans to start administering third doses and booster shots on November 15.

The DOH previously explained the difference between a third dose and a booster shot against COVID-19.

READ: FDA’s decision on third dose, booster shot out in 1 to 2 weeks – chief

Citing the World Health Organization, the DOH said booster shots are provided due to waning immunity several months after the primary course of vaccination while third doses are given to people with comorbidity and senior citizens who may have not developed sufficient immunity against the disease.

So far, COVID-19 vaccine makers Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Sputnik V have applied for “product variation” or amendments to their emergency use authorizations or EUAs in the country in order to include a third dose and booster shot.

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