Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18) — The Department of Health on Saturday said it could start the roll-out of booster doses for 12 to 17 years old by next week once the recommendation is approved and the guidelines are out.
“Once the Department of Health, through the Secretary of Health, approves the recommendations of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), the DOH would now draft the guidelines on how we are going to implement these booster doses for 12-17 years old,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a public briefing.
On June 14, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration amended the Emergency Use Authority for Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose for the said age group, Vergeire said.
After two days, HTAC submitted its recommendations to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“Ito po ang ating parang inaantay na key factor. Kung saka-sakali pong mapirmahan na, posible po na maaari na tayong mag-umpisa by next week once guidelines are out,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: We’ve been waiitng for this key factor so in case the recommendation gets signed, it ‘s possible that we start the vaccination by next week once guidelines are out.]
“Kailangan lang antayin ng ating mga local government ang guidelines na ibibigay po ng Department of Health,” she noted.
[Translation: Local governments should wait for the guidelines to be given by the Department of Health.]
With the COVID-19 cases in the country continuing to increase, the health official appealed to the public to continue practicing minimum public health standards, to isolate if experiencing symptoms, and to get vaccinated and boosted.
