DOH moves to allow 4th dose for target groups, booster shot on ages 12-17

The Department of Health said Friday that it has already requested the Food and Drug Administration to amend the emergency use authorization (EUA) of COVID-19 vaccines to allow the fourth dose for priority population and booster shot for 12 to 17 years old children.

“Tayo po ay nagsumite na ng request sa FDA for the EUA to be amended for this fourth dose at kasama ito pong booster shot for 12 to 17 years old,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said  in a press conference.

(We already submitted a request to the FDA for the EUA to be amended for this fourth dose at including the booster shot for 12 to 17 years old children.)

Vergeire added that if the FDA issues the amended EUA, this will be forwarded to the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) for evaluation.

When this process is completed, Vergeire said the DOH can already draft the guidelines for the implementation of giving fourth dose to priority population and booster shot for 12 to 17 years old kids.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose “Joey” Concepcion III warned that some 27 million doses are going to expire in three months if unused.

National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson and Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said they are looking at including booster dose as a requirement for “full vaccination.” —LBG, GMA News