Gov't rolls out second COVID-19 booster shot in NCR

The administration of second COVID-19 booster shot for the immunocompromised population is set to begin in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday, April 25, 2022.

In a message to reporters, the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC), Tala Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, and the city government of Makati are scheduled to begin the rollout of the second booster shot within the day.

More vaccination sites will start administering second boosters as the days progress, the DOH added.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said on Saturday that it is expecting around 7,000 to 13,000 immunocompromised individuals to take their second booster doses during the first day of its rollout.

Asked during the Laging Handa briefing why the immunocompromised was given priority in the second booster inoculation, Philippine Medical Association president Dr. Benito Atienza explained that their immune system is weak and they are the ones among the most vulnerable against COVID-19.

“Ang priority ‘yun po talaga kasi more than four months na sila nabigyan ng first booster at kung magkakaron ng surge ay sila ang maapektuhan kaya ang immunocompromised ang inuuna palagi,” he said.

(The priority is really the immunocompromised because they have been given the first booster for more than four months now and if there is a COVID-19 surge, they will be the ones affected.)

Atienza added that the administration of the primary vaccine series and first booster shot will continue in vaccination sites. However, parents or guardians have to coordinate with local government units for the schedule of the pediatric vaccinations as the kids have to be given a different vaccine dosage.

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

The DOH 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.

The DOH said Monday that some 12.9 million have received their first booster shots.

Meanwhile, more than 67.4 million individuals or 74.98% of the government’s target population are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. —Giselle Ombay/KBK/RSJ, GMA News