Experts recommend 4th COVID shot for elderly, immunocompromised

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) has recommended providing a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, a government adviser said Friday.

Dr. Ted Herbosa, adviser of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said at the Laging Handa public briefing that the VEP has submitted its recommendation before the Technical Advisory Group and the All Experts Group of the Department of Health.

“As of now mayroong recommendation ang ating Vaccine Expert Panel para sa pagbigay ng fourth dose or second booster dose para sa mga senior and immunocompromised,” Herbosa said.

(As of now, there is a recommendation from the Vaccine Expert Panel to provide a fourth dose or a second booster shot for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.)

“Ito ngayon ay ipinasa na sa ating Technical Advisory Group at sa All Experts [Group] at hintayin na lang natin kung maaprubahan ito ng ating IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) para maimplementa na,” he added.

(It was submitted to the Technical Advisory Group and the All Experts Group. Let us wait if it will be approved by the IATF so it can be implemented.)

The government started providing booster shots and third doses to health workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals in November last year.

The administration of booster shots to the general population was later launched in December.

JPV