By Raphael Polintan

Plans are underway for the administration of a third COVID-19 vaccine shot for the immunocompromised group of the country, along with the health workers and senior citizens, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, October 18.

This is in accordance with the recommendation of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (WHO’s SAGE).

According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH is already preparing for the inoculations, but can only begin administering them once plans have been finalized and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues an amended emergency use authorization to cover the additional dosage.

“We are already planning for this. We are preparing actually kasi nasabi naman talaga, base sa ebidensiya at saka sa recommendation ng WHO… ang recommendation sa ngayon ay additional doses for immunocompromised individuals, senior citizens and healthcare workers,” she stated.

The DOH will prioritize individuals in the A3 sector but not all those who belong under the priority group will be eligible to receive the dose as other comorbidities are not considered immunocompromised.

A final list of eligible individuals will be released as soon as guidelines for administering additional doses are established.

Vergeire also clarified that the doses are not booster shots and that they belong to the primary jabs of the vaccines. 

Boosters, she earlier explained, are given to individuals who have completed all required vaccine doses but have exhibited weakening COVID-19 immunity.

On October 11, the WHO’s SAGE suggested that the immunocompromised who are susceptible to COVID-19 should be inoculated with a third vaccine dose.

SAGE further stated that the initial target for countries is to maximize the number of second doses administered before commencing third dose vaccinations, beginning with the elderly.

The DOH later heeded the recommendation on October 15 and stated that plans should undergo the correct process and acquire regulatory approval.

Meanwhile, the government is currently waiting for the WHO’s full recommendation on booster shots which is expected to be released later in November.

Currently, only 22.2% of the Philippine population has been fully vaccinated with 50 million people yet to be inoculated to achieve the targeted herd immunity. 

References:

CNN Philippines. (2021, October 15). DOH to heed WHO advice on third doses for older, immunocompromised people. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/10/15/third-dose-senior-citizens-DOH.html

Crisostomo, S. (2021, October 17). Philippines to heed WHO advice on 3rd dose. The Philippine Star. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/17/2134716/philippines-heed-who-advice-3rd-dose

Magsambol, B. (2021, October 18). Plans underway for 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccine for vulnerable group – DOH. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/doh-says-plans-underway-3rd-dose-covid-19-vaccines-vulnerable-groupRopero, G. (2021, October 18). DOH says ‘preparing’ for 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccines for priority sectors. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/21/ph-prepares-for-3rd-shot-of-covid-vaccines-for-priority-sectors