DOH shortens interval for booster shots vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday announced that the interval for booster shots against COVID-19 will now been shortened starting Wednesday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said under the new policy, boosters could now be administered to adults at least three months after the second dose of a primary two-dose vaccine or at least two months after the primary single-dose vaccine is given.

Vaccines like AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, or Sputnik are two-dose vaccines while Janssen is the sole single-dose vaccine currently approved for use in the country.

“We are exploring all possible options to safely mitigate the effects of more transmissible variants of COVID-19,” Duque said in a statement. “The approval came at an opportune time as several countries also re-strategized in light of the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants that may emerge.”

However, Duque said that those who are yet to receive their primary vaccine doses against the new coronavirus should be prioritized.

“We call on our local government units to encourage their constituents to get vaccinated, especially the unvaccinated senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions who are more vulnerable to having severe COVID-19.

“Ensuring enough coverage of the primary series while adhering to the minimum public health standards are crucial if we want to maintain low to minimal risk classification and have adequate health systems capacities especially during the holiday season,” Duque added.

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