DOH: WHO didn’t name any COVID vaccine brand that needs 3rd dose

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday clarified that the World Health Organization (WHO) did not specify a COVID-19 vaccine brand that needs a third dose.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Health Undersecretary Ma.Rosario Vergeire was asked about her reaction to the supposed WHO statement that senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals who received the Sinovac or Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine must get a booster shot.

“Kailangan po natin ilagay sa konteksto ito. Unang-una ‘yung official document na lumabas po sa WHO did not specifically state any type of vaccine,”   Vergeire explained.

(We need to put it in context. First, the WHO’s official document did not specifically state any type of vaccine.)

“Ang maliwanag lang po d’on, ang sinasabi d’on, kailangan ng third doses doon po sa mga immunocompromised individuals at maaari rin d’on sa mga ating nakakatanda,” she added.

(What is clear was that the WHO stated that a third dose is needed for immunocompromised individuals and the elderly.)

“Nililinaw ko rin po, d’on po sa kanilang official article or documentation, WHO did not specifically mention itong mga brands ng bakuna. Ito po ay nanggaling sa kanilang mga spokespersons, ‘yung mga nagsasalita sa media and they were the ones who mentioned about the specific types of vaccines,” Vergeire said.

(Let me also clarify that in their official article, the WHO did not specifically mention any vaccine brand. These came from the spokespersons who talked to the media and they were the ones who mentioned about the specific types of vaccines.)

She also pointed out to take caution in giving a vaccine type when reporting as this could affect the vaccine confidence.

Citing the WHO, Vergeire said that there is a difference between a third dose and booster shots.

An additional dose, Vergeire said, is what is recommended for immunocompromised individuals, senior citizens and health workers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said “a booster shot is administered when a person has completed their vaccine series and protection against the virus has decreased over time. Additional doses are administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose of an mRNA-COVID-19 vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series.”

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