Rollout of second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised set for April 25 –DOH

The rollout of second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised persons is set to begin on April 25 nationwide, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced on Friday.

During a media forum, Vergeire said only immunocompromised individuals who are 18 years old and above will only be allowed to receive their second booster shot as early as three months after their first booster.

“Magtuturok na po tayo ng second booster shots para sa mga 18 years old and above na immunocompromised. Nationwide po ang ating rollout na nakadepende sa kahandaan ng kani-kanilang local na pamahalaan,” she said.

(We will start giving second booster shot to those 18 years old and above who are immunocompromised. The rollout is nationwide depending on the preparedness of the respective local governments.)

Among the brands that will be used are AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said he has already approved the rollout of second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised persons.

Duque said these patients include those who have cancer, recipients of organ transplants, and HIV/AIDS patients, among others.

He stressed that frontline healthcare providers and senior citizens are not yet covered by the expected rollout of second booster shots next week.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said they are still waiting for the assessment of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) for the administration of second booster shot to senior citizens and healthcare workers.

“So nauna po ang mga ebidensya at mas kumpleto ang ebidensyang hawak ng ating HTAC for the immunocompromised. Minabuti ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan na inuna na natin, kasi natapos na ang HTAC doon kesa idi-delay natin lahat at least may nauna na nakapagbigay ng additional protection for our immunocompromised,” she explained.

(The evidence for the immunocompromised came first and is the most complete. The Department of Health preferred to start the rollout since the HTAC finished the assessment instead of delaying it while waiting for the others. At least we will provide additional protection for immunocompromised.)

“Pasunod na rin po ang senior citizens and healthcare workers kinukumpleto na lang po ang assessment. Maybe by next week tayo po ay makakapaglabas na ng rekomendasyon at puwede na rin umpisahan in the next week,” she added.

(Assessment for senior citizens and healthcare workers will soon be completed. Maybe by next week we will be able to issue a recommendation and we can also start the rollout.)

Vax update

Meanwhile, according to Vergeire, at least 74.8% of the target population or more than 67.3 million individuals have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, more than 1.7 million children aged 5 to 11 and 9.1 million adolescents are vaccinated and already safe to conduct face-to-face classes, she added.  —KBK, GMA News