Seniors, persons with comorbidities may get booster shots starting Nov. 22—DOH
Seniors and persons with comorbidities can start getting their COVID-19 booster shots starting today, Nov. 22.
According to the Department of Health, the rollout of additional doses will be for those aged 60 years old and above (A2) as well as “individuals with comorbidities in immunocompromised state,” (A3) including immunodeficiency state, people living with HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant patients, and patients under immunosuppressive treatments.
“Ang immunocompromised, ‘yan po yung mismo talaga na rekomendasyon na may ebidensya tayo na bibigyan ng third doses dahil hindi po nakumpleto yung kanilang immune response because of their condition,” Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH spokesperson, said in an interview on DZMM Teleradyo.
Here are the recommended booster dose combinations for those who are part of the A2 and A3 priority groups, as per the health agency:
Vergeire clarified, however, that senior citizens may pick the brand of their booster jabs. “Maaari po silang mamili o maari pong tanungin nila ang kanilang doktor kung ano po ‘yung mas appropriate sa kanila na bakunang ibibigay,” she said.
Under the guidelines released by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center on the booser vaccination of senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, the option will be given to the vacinee to pick which brand “depending on the availability of vaccine brands in the vaccination site.”
READ: Guidelines on the booster vaccination of senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals | @shecrisostomo pic.twitter.com/UBeE8XrlPL
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) November 22, 2021
The rollout of booster jabs for fully vaccinated healthcare workers started on Nov. 17. The DOH recommended the use of Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses “regardless of the brand used for the primary series.”
“DOH and NVOC (National Vaccines Operation Center) reiterate that the administration of booster doses is conducted in a phased approach and is not yet available for the general population,” the DOH stated in its advisory.
“Iyon pong iba pang kababayan natin, dahil gusto rin po natin na pataasin ang antas ng pagbabakuna sa mga wala pang bakuna, kaya po gagawin natin in phases,” said Vergeire.