(FILE) Elder residents receive the jab of Astrazeneca vaccine at Barangay 672 Zone 73 in Paco, Manila on March 28, 2021 during the start of vaccination for senior citizens of the local government. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — Booster shots for senior citizens, or those considered under the A2 priority group of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, may need to be the same vaccine brand as what they first received, an infectious disease expert said Thursday.
The government is currently rolling out the administration of booster shots for healthcare workers. The Department of Health (DOH) released the guidelines Wednesday.
Health workers were given the liberty to choose the vaccine brand, which may be different from what they received as their primary series.
Dr. Edsel Salvaña said the guidelines for booster shots for senior citizens may be different since they are considered as immunocompromised individuals.
Instead of booster shots, they may instead be given a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Ang guidelines para sa A1 (health workers) na booster might be very different from the guidelines para sa A2,” Salvana said in an interview over ABS CBN’s TeleRadyo.
(The guidelines for A1 priority sector might be different from the guidelines for A2.)
“Ang recommendation ng WHO for A2 is ‘yung tinatawag na homologous, in other words, ‘yung ginamit na bakuna sayo, ibibigay as third dose na kaparehong bakuna,” he added.
(The WHO recommendation for A2 is a homologous shot, meaning it is the same brand as what was first given to them.)
“Iba ‘yun sa booster na ginagamit sa healh workers ngayon,” he continued.
(It is different from the booster shots given to health workers now.)
Citing the World Health Organization, the DOH earlier said booster shots are provided due to waning immunity several months after the primary course of vaccination.
Meanwhile, third doses are given to people such as individuals with comorbidity and senior citizens who may have not mounted sufficient immunity against the disease.
Salvana said the DOH is currently finalizing guidelines for booster shots or third doses for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
This might be released as early as next week, he said.