Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — The Department of Health on Monday warned medical workers who will administer COVID-19 booster shots that they can be held held liable for their action.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded doctors and health workers that vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration does not include the use of an additional dose.
“Kung ano ang nasa EUA, yan ang magiging gamit ng bakuna. Mag-ingat tayo dahil kapag may violations sa ganito, maaaring magkaroon ng sanctions,” the official said in a media briefing.
[Translation: The vaccines should be used based on what’s indicated in the EUA. Be careful because this is a violation. You may face sanctions.]
The warning came after San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora admitted that he has received two Pfizer booster shots after completing his Sinopharm vaccination, meaning he has received four vaccine shots despite the shortage of supplies in the country.
The DOH stood by its decision not to recommend booster shots yet due to vaccine shortage and lack of solid evidence that it is necessary to fully protect an individual against coronavirus.
Vergeire said that based on their survey on healthcare workers, who mostly received Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, completion of the two doses led to lower infection rate and no hospitalizations or deaths due to COVID-19.
“Sana isipin natin na hanggang wala pang ebidensya ang booster shots na ito, bigyan natin ng kumpyansa ang ating mga bakuna. Lumalabas na sa ngayon, ang real world studies na ang lahat ng ginagamit na bakuna dito sa ating bansa ay effective against hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths and even effective against symptomatic infections,” the DOH spokesperson said.
[Translation: While we are waiting for evidence on booster shots, let us be confident in our vaccines. Based on real-world studies, all the vaccines used in the country are effective against hospitalizations, ICU admissions, deaths, and even symptomatic infections.]
Pfizer recently announced that it is seeing waning immunity from its vaccine and said it is picking up its efforts to develop a booster dose that will protect people from coronavirus variants.
