‘Significant number of people’ got 2 sets of primary COVID-19 vaccination — expert

MANILA, Philippines — An infectious disease expert on Monday flagged that a “significant number of people” have gotten two sets of primary COVID-19 vaccine series, saying this is the reason why some are hesitant of availing a first booster shot against the virus.

“Sinabi namin very early on, just take the two [doses] and then pa-booster kayo ‘pag sinabi ng gobyerno. Unfortunately maraming tao, they went ahead and got a second course and not telling the vaccine hubs na naka-first course na sila for whatever reason and syempre maghe-hesitate talaga sila na mag-booster kasi magiging five doses na sila,” Dr. Edsel Salvaña said during a Laging Handa briefing.

(We said very early on, just take two doses and then get your booster when the government allows it. Unfortunately, a lot of people, they went ahead and got a second course and not telling the vaccine hubs that they’ve already accomplished a first course for whatever reason and of course, they become hesitant of taking a booster short because they end up receiving a total of five doses.)

“I think this is the elephant in the room na lahat naman naguusap (that everyone is talking) about this, I think part of the reason why some people are not talking their first booster is because nakadalawang vaccine course na sila (they already got two vaccine courses),” he added.

“Now we have, I think, it’s a significant number of people who have gotten two courses of vaccine on their own without sanction from the government and now they don’t know what to do with their first booster, I think we have to address that,” he further said.

Salvaña said he already informed the Department of Health (DOH) regarding such instances as he stressed the need to “fix this problem.”

“I’ve pointed this out to the DOH that there are people out there who really went ahead and got a third and a fourth dose na hindi pa naman sila (even though they aren’t) qualified and how are we going to fix this problem because it’s there. Pinaguusapan din namin how to deal with that (We are discussing how to deal with that),” he said.

“Kasi hindi yan lalabas sa [vaccine certificate] e . And that’s going to interfere with their ability to travel kasi for instance, a lot of countries like Singapore will require a first booster already if pupunta kayo doon. Kailangan up to date yung vaccinations,” he added.

(Because that will not reflect on the vaccine certificate. And that’s going to interfere with their ability to travel because for instance, a lot of countries like Singapore will require a first booster already if you will visit there. You need to be up to date with your vaccination.)

Earlier, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III lamented that the number of Filipinos with a first booster shot remains “quite anemic.”

READ: Number of Filipinos with COVID-19 booster shots ‘quite anemic’ – Duque

According to Salvaña, a first booster shot is “very important” in terms of providing protection against the Omicron variant. He said a booster shot ensures continued protection against severe disease and hospitalization.

“Without the first booster, it’s about 55-percent decreased risk of hospitalization pero pag dinagdagan mo ng first booster, akyat siya to about 81 percent. So important, almost essential, yung first booster pag ang nakikita natin na dominant variant of concern is Omicron, which it is right now,” he explained.

(Without the first booster, it’s about a 55-percent decreased risk of hospitalization but when you add a first booster dose, that will increase to 81 percent. So the first booster is important, almost essential, if the dominant variant of concern is Omicron, which it is right now.)

This, Salvaña said, is the reason why the government is “really pushing” for the public to avail of their booster shot.

In the Philippines, those who have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines are eligible to receive the first booster shot. The DOH, meanwhile, announced that the elderly and health frontliners may now avail of their second COVID-19 booster shots.

“Kung hindi pa kayo nagpapa-first booster, please magpa-first booster na kayo para ma-maximize po talaga natin yung protection against Omicron [That’s why if you have not received your first booster yet, please, get it so that the protection against Omicron will be maximized],” Salvaña went on.

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