Philippine vaccine experts to study when COVID-19 booster shots may be given

The Department of Science and Technology - Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) will conduct a study this month on when a booster shot or the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine should be given, an official said Wednesday.

Dr. Nina Gloriani of VEP said the experts have been constantly meeting to discuss the reported waning efficacy abroad of COVID-19 vaccines six months after the full dose is given.

"We are looking at those data from abroad on waning immunity. But so far we don't have clear recommendation for a booster [yet] because breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated have been mostly mild and moderate and those who had severe [cases] have been very, very low," Gloriani said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

"We are seeing that the longer the interval between second and third doses, the immune response is better. Hopefully, mag-uumpisa po ang ating mix-and-match [study] (our mix-and-match [study] will start) anytime soon this month," she added. 

Gloriani the said people should get vaccinated as soon as it is available to them.

"Get vaccinated because otherwise, cases will continue to increase and the virus will continue to mutate," she said.

At least 13.7 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, way behind the 76.3 million target needed to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. —KG, GMA News