Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4) — The Department of Health on Friday said medical experts are looking into the possibility of shortening the period between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca vaccines.
The country is following the 12-week interval since there are studies showing the vaccine is more effective with the longer wait, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the second dose should be administered between four and 12 weeks after the first dose.
“Ang pinapatupad natin is base sa ebidensya na sinasabi that you get higher efficacy if you give it at a longer period of interval and that is 12 weeks,” Vergeire said in a media briefing on Friday. “Pag-aaralan ‘yan, tignan natin in the coming weeks kung ano ang sasabihin ng ating mga eksperto.”
[Translation: What we are doing now is based on the evidence that you get higher efficacy if you give it at a longer period of interval and that is 12 weeks. Experts will study that. We will find out the result in the coming weeks.]
