DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire talks with reporters via Zoom meeting in this file photo taken on April 23, 2020. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — The government has already provided over 102,000 booster shots and third doses to priority groups, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thursday that all regions have already started administering booster shots and third doses for healthcare workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals.
“As of November 24, we were already able to give boosters for health workers at 69,971, for senior citizens, 21,139, and for immunocompromised individuals to give their third doses, we have 10,992. Ang total natin na nabigyan ng (The total number of) boosters or additional doses is 102,102 across the whole country,” she told an online media briefing.
The DOH earlier explained that booster doses are provided due to waning immunity several months after the primary course of vaccination, while third doses are provided for people who may not have not mounted sufficient immunity against the disease despite being fully vaccinated.
The rollout of booster shots for health workers started on November 17, while the administration of boosters and third doses was launched for the elderly and immunocompromised individuals on November 22.
Government data as of November 22 showed that 33,847,741 individuals are so far fully immunized against COVID-19, while 42,632,392 people are partially vaccinated.