FDA gives go-signal to use booster shots from 4 COVID-19 vaccine brands

An elderly woman is being inoculated against COVID-19 during a mass vaccination in San Marcelino town in Zambales province (Photo courtesy of San Marcelino Public Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration has approved four COVID-19 vaccine brands to be used as additional doses for fully vaccinated individuals, agency’s Director General Eric Domingo said.

The four brands are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Sputnik. All are homologous, except Sputnik Light which is heterologous.

Homologous vaccination is described as administering an additional dose from the same manufacturer used in the primary series, while heterologous vaccination is injecting a third dose from a different manufacturer.

“Ito po ‘yung na-approve natin ngayong araw na ito para magamit ng additional vaccination. Ibig sabihin, magdagdag na dose after ma-complete po ‘yung primary series na isa or dalawang dose,” Domingo said during the Talk to the People which aired on Tuesday.

(We have approved the said vaccines for additional vaccination. It means giving another dose after completing the primary series.)

The said vaccine manufacturers applied for a variation, amending their emergency use authorization for it to be used as an additional dose, Domingo said.

The director-general said that boosters would be used for priority groups such as health workers, immunocompromised individuals such as senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said that health care workers may start receiving their COVID-19 booster shots on November 17.

Domingo further assured the public that vaccines’ benefits outweigh its risks.

“Gusto lang po naming ipaalala and reiterate na sa pagtitingin po natin at sa pagmo-monitor po natin ng bakunahan, talagang nakikita po natin ‘yung benefit ng vaccine, the protection it gives. It prevents illness at saka nakakabawas po ng pagkamatay from COVID-19 at mababa naman po ‘yung ating adverse events na nare-report,” he said.

(We want to remind and reiterate that through our monitoring of vaccination, we see its benefits and protection. It prevents illness and lowers the chances of deaths from COVID-19 and our adverse events reported are few.)

EDV