Yearly COVID-19 vaccination ‘long been discussed, planned’ by govt — DOH

“If ever na dadating tayo na magkaroon ng kumpletong ebidensya para sa yearly vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines, ang gobyerno po ay magiging handa para maibigay sa atin pong mga kababayan, for those who are eligible in the coming years,” said DOH spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

[Translation: If ever that we will gather complete evidence for the yearly vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines, the government is ready to inoculate those who are eligible in the coming years.]

Vergeire said regular vaccination against COVID-19 has long been discussed and planned by the government.

“Sa mga budget po na nai-sumite at naipasa at naaprubahan ng Kongreso para sa Department of Health, kasama na po diyan ang ating mga kailangang bilhing bakuna para sa iba’t-ibang sektor ng lipunan pati na rin additional doses para sa ating mga kababayan.”

[Translation: The vaccines for various sector of the society as well as the additional doses have been part of the budget submitted by the Department of Health and approved by Congress.]

Some experts abroad have said COVID-19 vaccination could be needed on a yearly basis to keep the disease under control.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet April 6 to discuss the need for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in the future.

For his part, infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvana said that the need for regular vaccination depends on the situation.

“So this is an open question and will depend on how things go in terms of emergence of new variants and seasonality ng mga cases ng COVID-19 (of COVID-19 cases),” he said.

According to DOH data, 70.29 million individuals have received their first dose; 65.17 million have completed their primary doses; and at least 11.53 million have so far received their booster shot.

The government earlier said that it is eyeing to conduct special vaccination days by the end of March in certain areas with low immunization coverage against COVID-19.

The country aims to immunize over 70 million Filipinos by the end of the month.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) — The government is ready to give the eligible population yearly shots against COVID-19 if enough evidence shows the necessity for it, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

READ: Could the Covid-19 vaccine become a yearly shot? Some experts think so