Eight months after the Philippines started its inoculation rollout in March, the country notes 1 million vaccines being given daily. Following the steady vaccination rate, booster doses will now be available for fully vaccinated healthcare workers starting Nov. 17, Wednesday, as released by the Department of Health (DOH) in an official statement.
Ever since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout started in the country, there has been a general buzz on when boosters shots would be available to the public. In fact, because of the eager demand for the 3rd jab, the DOH confirmed reports of waves of Filipinos receiving the shot without approval from local drug regulators.
With this announcement to officially provide the dose to frontliners, the safe distribution of the booster to the population is now within reach. The guidelines for the distribution of the booster jabs will be released later today, Nov. 16, by the National Vaccine Operations Center.
There is no definitive research that pairs which booster to get based on one’s COVID-19 vaccine. There is also no official study that guides on which booster works best for a type of person, area, or lifestyle. In an official statement, the DOH recommends using Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac doses “regardless of the brand used for the primary series.”
Booster shots dial up the COVID-19 antibodies in a person and thus, gives this individual more protection against the virus compared to if he or she were not to receive the 3rd shot. Once readily available, getting a 3rd jab makes for a safer fight against COVID-19.
(By: Bianca Floirendo)