Some healthcare workers in Ilocos Norte province get the first jab for the COVID-19 second booster dose at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. (Photo courtesy of Department of Health – Ilocos)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City in this province Monday started administering second COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to healthcare workers with comorbidities, the regional Department of Health (DOH) said.
Ilocos Norte’s biggest public hospital had set up a vaccination center to accommodate immunocompromised individuals from the community. The hospital has more than 1,000 employees.
“The second booster dose provides better protection against the virus, especially against severe and critical infection,” said Dr. Paz Sydiongco, DOH regional director.
The fourth vaccine dose rollout among healthcare workers is part of the national government effort to help bolster waning immunity against COVID-19.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization warned of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, if the public continues to lower its guard, coupled with unsafe gatherings that come with elections.
The DOH earlier said it was monitoring certain regions in the country, including the Ilocos, for posting a one-week positive growth rate in the previous week. But the rise in COVID cases should not be a cause for concern, DOH added.
The latest case bulletin from DOH showed that the Ilocos region had logged an average of four daily COVID-19 cases from April 17 to 23. The same data showed that Ilocos reported 29 new cases during the same period.
Among the COVID-19 vaccines that can be used as second booster doses and with approved Emergency Use Authorizations from the Philippine Food and Drug Association are Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca. INQ
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