THE Department of Health said that they are now drafting the operational guidelines in offering the second COVID-19 booster to the general public.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they hope to release it before the end of the week.
“Batay sa updated emergency use authorization ng Food and Drug Administration at positibong rekomendasyon ng Health Technology Assessment Council, maaari na po nating magamit ang ating mga bakuna na meron tayo ngayon upang makapag-second boosters na ang general population o ang ating healthy adults,” she said.
Previously, only health-care workers, senior citizens and immunocompromised people were allowed to receive the fourth jab.
Vergeire said that this time, all adults aged 18 years and above are can be eligible for the second booster.
She said that 3 vaccine brands have been approved for use as additional jab, and these are Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
“Hopefully within the week we can issue and we can start our implementation the soonest time possible,” the acting health chief said.
Vergeire said that agency’s decision to start administering the second booster was not related to the recent uptick in coronavirus infections.
“The decision for us to implement the second booster for the general population is still based on science and evidence,” she said.
During the Holy Week, the country recorded 1,944 COVID-19 cases, which was 13 percent higher compared to its previous week.
Minors aged 12 to 17 are not covered by the updated EUA for second booster dose.
Catherine R. Cueto
