Vaccine Expert Panel prefers heterologous dose for second COVID-19 booster

The Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) on Thursday said they favor that a heterologous booster or a booster using a different vaccine brand will be administered for specific populations for their second round of booster inoculation against COVID-19.

At the Laging Handa briefing, VEP chief Dr. Nina Gloriani explained that once the rollout for the second booster shot starts in the country, the brand that will be given to the eligible population will be the brand that is available in the vaccination site.

“Hindi kailangang pareho do’n sa dati, do’n sa first dose. Kung ano ‘yung available sa LGU (local government unit) or do’n sa vaccination site, ‘yun ang ating bibigay,” she said.

“Actually, we prefer ‘yung heterologous sana na booster kasi alam natin na ang data do’n mas maganda. Mas maganda ang proteksyon na naibibigay ng heterologous,” she added.

(It brand doesn’t have to be the same width as the first dose. The people will be provided with what is available at the LGU or vaccination site, that is what we will provide. Actually, we prefer the heterologous booster because we know that the data is better. The heterologous booster gives better protection.)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently granted the emergency use authorization for the second booster shot for the senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health frontliners.

The Health Department said the second booster dose will be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster, with the FDA recognizing waning immunity in the specific populations.

DOH also noted on Tuesday that the implementation of the second booster shots may start in a week or two, once the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has given its final recommendation.

Gloriani said that the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is already ready for this, and is just waiting for the HTAC recommendation that will need the signature of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“‘Pag nagbigay tayo ng booster, in a few days, usually mga five or seven days, papanik agad ‘yung kanilang neutralizing antibodies. So, makakatulong ‘yun sa pagtaas ng proteksyon against sa any possible exposure o surge. Importante na timely din ‘yung ating action para hindi nahuhuli at mae-expose ‘yung ating kababayan,” she said.

(When we give a booster, the neutralizing antibodies will go up immediately in a few days, usually five or seven days. So, that will help increase protection against any possible exposure or surge. It is also important that our action is timely so that our countrymen will not catch or get exposed to the virus.)

Gloriani was referring to the warning by the DOH and the World Health Organization Philippines that the country may experience another surge in COVID-19 infections by mid-May if the minimum public health standards are continuously ignored.