DOH: Decision not to open 2nd booster to general public is science-based

MANILA, Philippines — Decisions of the Department of Health (DOH) are based on science, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday when asked why the administration of second booster shots against COVID-19 is still not open for the general public.

Vergeire explained that evidence showed that the second booster dose is effective for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and persons with comorbidities.

“Tayo po kapag gumagawa ng desisyon at polisiya sa ating Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, this is based on evidence. It’s based on science,” she said in a media forum.

(When we are making decisions and policies in the Department of Health, this is based on evidence. It’s based on science.)

“Ang ebidensya po ngayon sa second boosters ay nagpapakita na ito po ay nagiging epektibo para lamang sa matatanda, du’n po sa mga may comorbidities, du’n po sa vulnerable sector. Kaya hanggang sa ngayon, ang second booster po ay inaalok pa lang natin o ibinibigay dito po sa grupo na ito,” she added.

(The current evidence for second boosters shows that it is effective for the elderly, those with comorbidities, the vulnerable sector. So up to now, we are offering the second booster shots only for these groups.)

If the agency could, they would provide the vaccines to everyone to avoid vaccine wastage, said Vergeire. However, she reiterated that their decisions are science-based.

Despite the limited second booster shot administration, the health official assured the public that review of evidence is ongoing.

“Hindi naman po kailangan mag-alala ng ating mga kababayan kasi ang atin pong pagre-review ng mga ebidensya [ay] patuloy nating ginagawa, Vergeire said.

(Our fellow Filipinos do not need to worry because we continue to review evidence.)

Around 44 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been wasted since 2021, the DOH earlier reported.

Monovalent, bivalent vaccines

Meanwhile, Vergeire was asked for the department’s comment on the appeal of the Alliance of Health Workers to administer remaining stocks of monovalent COVID-19 vaccines before purchasing bivalent vaccines.

Vergeire replied that the injection of monovalent vaccines will continue, should the government successfully procure bivalent vaccines.

“Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang pagtuturok nitong monovalent vaccine but at the same time, we are buying the bivalent vaccine because we want to have that chance also na magamit natin ‘to, especially du’n sa mga nangangailangan nating vulnerable sector,” she said in the same forum.

(We will continue injecting monovalent vaccines but at the same time, we are buying the bivalent vaccine because we want to have that chance to also use it, especially for the vulnerable sector.)

According to Vergeire, bivalent vaccines can address both the original strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 and the subvariants of Omicron.

The DOH is eyeing to buy bivalent vaccines and make them accessible to the public by the first quarter of 2023.

JMS