Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — The Department of Health (DOH) and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) are coordinating with health facilities and vaccination sites after reports that some healthcare workers and senior citizens who are not immunocompromised (ICP) were given their second booster shot.
The DOH started the roll out of the second booster doses on April 25 for ICPs or people who have an impaired or weakened immune system. They include patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, those who underwent organ transplant, or are undergoing chronic dialysis.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Health Department said the management of the hospital in Metro Manila, which reportedly administered second booster shots to non-ICPs, explained that it has ‘unintentionally misinterpreted guidelines’.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the amended Emergency Use Authorization of second booster shot for healthcare workers, senior citizens, and ICPs.
However, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has only completed recommendations for ICPs and is still reviewing the guidelines for the other vulnerable sectors, the DOH said.
The DOH confirmed that the hospital has since returned to administering boosters only to ICPs.
The department said it and NVOC are coordinating with healthcare facilities and vaccination sites to prevent a similar case from happening anew.
