Concepcion’s call stemmed from a manufacturer’s remark that those who have received its COVID-19 vaccine will likely need a booster shot next year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Wednesday urged the national government to prepare for the possibility of giving COVID-19 booster shots at some point in the future.
Unprogrammed appropriations refer to items that will be funded if revenue collections exceed targets or when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.
Department of Budget and Management officer-in-charge Tina Canda said in a separate briefing that the item is under unprogrammed appropriations since the government has yet to approve the use of booster shots.
The Department of Health has repeatedly said it is still not recommending the use of booster shots, citing insufficient evidence.
“Right now, AstraZeneca is not taking any orders. But they are now asking us to plan out the booster shots,” Concepcion said in an online forum.
“AstraZeneca has a life span of about one year. So, we will need those booster shots middle of next year. So, we have to plan now,” he added.
Concepcion acknowledged that additional vaccine doses are not yet recommended in the country, but he underscored the need to “think forward and study how many booster shots we will need, so we are not left behind.”
“Before we really bring in the boosters, we should really vaccinate all the people who are willing to be vaccinated, but we have to also start discussing these boosters because we cannot be late,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said the incumbent administration earmarked P45 billion for the purchase of booster shots under unprogrammed appropriations in the proposed budget for 2022.
Meanwhile, in the United States, officials announced their plan to offer booster shots beginning next month, but this is subject to authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration and recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If approved, the shots will be given eight months after a person received the second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
