DOH drafting guidelines for COVID-19 booster shots for healthy minors aged 12-17

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is already drafting the guidelines for the administration of COVID-19 booster shots for healthy teenagers aged 12 to 17, an official said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the immunization of immunocompromised 12 to 17 year olds, which will start on Wednesday, came first to avoid confusion among healthcare workers administering the booster shots.

This is because the interval for booster shots for immunocompromised and healthy teenagers is different.

“Magkaiba ang interval. Ang sa immunocompromised, 28 days ang pagitan ng second dose, the rest of the 12 to 17 year olds five months kaya inuna natin para hindi ma-confuse ang healthcare workers,” Cabotaje said in a public briefing.

(The intervals are different. For the immunocompromised, the interval between the second dose and the booster shot is 28 days while the rest of the 12 to 17 year olds is five months so we will roll it out first to avoid confusion.)

She said the DOH is expecting to release the guidelines for administering the booster shots for healthy 12-17 by Thursday and is aiming to roll out the booster shots for healthy teenagers by Friday or Thursday.

“Sa Thursday, maglalabas na tayo ng guidelines for the rest of the pediatric population. Mga Biyernes o Sabado magsisimula ang rollout,” she added.

(By Thursday, we will release the guidelines for the rest of the pediatric population. The roll out may be by Friday or Saturday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council to give booster shots to the adolescent population aged 12 to 17.

/MUF