Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) — A second booster dose against COVID-19 will soon be available to the general population and healthy adults, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Wednesday.
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JUST IN: The general population and healthy adults may now get a second booster against COVID-19, the Department of Health announces. | @JeloMantaring
Story soon on https://t.co/aKKwOvZDPQ pic.twitter.com/1b5338i25K
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) April 12, 2023
[Translation: Those 18 years old and above that have yet to receive a second booster, you may start going to vaccination sites as soon as we have released our guidelines.]
Vergeire said the DOH plans to issue the guidelines within the week so \"we can start our implementation the soonest time possible.\"
\"Na-ipresent na ito sa executive committee ng Department of Health last week. Nagbigay kami ng mga komento, ngayon, fina-finalize na,\" she added.
[Translation: The draft guidelines were presented to the executive committee of the DOH last week. We gave comments, and now they are being finalized.]
Vergeire said this development is based on the updated emergency use authority (EUA) of the Food and Drug Administration and the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC).
She clarified that this was not because of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, but urged Filipinos to get their second booster shots to help in lessening deaths as well as severe and critical infections due to the virus.
READ: DOH logs 1,944 new COVID-19 cases from April 3 to 9, up 13% from previous week
The health official said according to the FDA and HTAC, Pfizer, Moderna, and Astrazaneca doses will be used for the second booster of the general population.
\"Meron tayong sapat na mga supplies ng ating bakuna for Pfizer and Moderna para ibigay sa ating mga kababayan for the second booster shots,\" Vergeire said.
[Translation: We have enough supplies of Pfizer and Moderna doses to give to Filipinos for their second booster shots.]
The second booster dose was earlier only being administered to health workers, the elderly, and those with underlying illnesses. For these groups, additional doses are given at least four months after the administration of the first booster dose.
As of March 16, the DOH said more than 78.4 million Filipinos have been fully-vaccinated.
