Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 19) — A total of 2,488 healthcare workers got booster shots on the first day of the rollout on Nov. 17, a Health official said Friday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 2% of those vaccinated experienced mild side effects, including fever, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure.
“Wala po tayong serious adverse event na naitala para po dito sa mga naka-receive na ng booster doses,” she added.
[Translation: We did not record any serious adverse event among those who received booster doses.]
Boosters can be given at least six months after healthcare workers received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sputnik V, or AstraZeneca vaccine, and three months after for those who got the single-shot Janssen.
Fully vaccinated healthcare workers are allowed to choose which COVID-19 vaccine to receive as a booster shot, provided the one they prefer is available at vaccination sites. Approved to be used as booster shots are Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.
Those who originally received the Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine can opt to be injected with the same brand, or a different one.
But Vergeire previously noted that those who initially got the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are “not recommended” to receive Sinovac as their booster shot.
She also said those who received two doses of AstraZeneca can be given a shot from the same brand as their booster, but it should be used with precaution due to a possible efficacy issue.
She said those inoculated with vector-based vaccines such as AstraZeneca are recommended to receive a vaccine from a different brand for their booster instead.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers who initially got Sputnik V or Janssen can pick AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna.
Sputnik V is not yet being offered as a booster shot because there is not enough supply, while Janssen has yet to apply for an amendment to its emergency use authorization to include booster shot in its regimen, officials earlier said.
