Galvez recommends 4th COVID-19 vax dose for seafarers, OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. is recommending the inclusion of seafarers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the administration of the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We are also respectfully recommending to HTAC (Health Technology Assessment Council) that they should also look to include the seafarers kasi kinakailangan po ng seafarers po natin saka ng OFW na kailangan fourth dose na rin po sila kasi dito po sa Qatar at saka dito sa UAE (United Arab Emirates), nire-require po ng kanilang employer na fourth dose na po,” Galvez said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s address to the nation aired Wednesday.

(We are also respectfully recommending to HTAC that they should also look to include seafarers because they and our OFWs need the fourth dose already because Qatar and UAE employers require a fourth dose.)

To date, the Food and Drug Administration only approved the fourth dose or second booster administration for health workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals.

However, the rollout for the fourth dose is limited for persons with comorbidities so far. Hence, Galvez pushed to hasten the administration for health workers as they can get infected in their duty.

“Because of the current urgency of the situation, we are appealing to the HTAC to expedite the inclusion of the healthcare workers kasi ‘pag nag-uptick po tayo, hawa-hawa po ang ating healthcare workers,” (because when we have an uptick, infection may spread) Galvez explained.

“Pakisama na po natin po ang seniors and other vulnerable sectors para po mapataas significantly ang ating pagbabakuna at mabigyan sila ng continuous protection bago magkaroon ng tinatawag nating surge,” added Galvez.

(Let us also include seniors and other vulnerable sectors to significantly ramp up our vaccination and give them continuous protection before another surge.)

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier warned of a potential COVID-19 case surge if the public relaxes on its compliance to minimum public health standards.

Data from the DOH shows that 67.4 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country as of April 22.

The government is eyeing to fully immunize at least 77 million individuals before Duterte ends his term in June.

/MUF