ALL fully vaccinated adolescents, or those aged 12 to 17 years old, may start getting their COVID-19 booster shots today, the Department of Health said yesterday as it released guidelines for the administration of the additional shot to non-immunocompromised adolescents.
“The vaccination rollout for the administration of booster doses to non-immunocompromised pediatric A3 and rest of the pediatric population ages 12-17 years shall be simultaneously conducted nationwide based on the readiness of the local vaccination operations center, implementing units, and vaccination sites/teams,” the DOH said in a memorandum.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, asked if this means that the booster shot rollout for adolescents may start as early as today, said, “It can start as soon as the facility is ready.”
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is coordinating with local vaccination sites. “Hopefully, tomorrow (Thursday) or in the coming days, we will already start the booster shots for 12 to 17 years old, who are non-immunocompromised,” she said in a briefing.
DOH records show that as of June 27, about than 9.5 million adolescents have been fully vaccinated.
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) headed by Cabotaje and the DOH began giving booster shots to immunocompromised adolescents on June 23 after the issuance of the implementing guidelines.
Administration of the booster shots for the rest of the adolescents was expected to start over the weekend but faced delays because of a condition set by the Health Technology Assessment Council, which later withdrew the condition.
Under the guidelines issued yesterday, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots shall be administered to the rest of the adolescent population at least five months after the administration of the second dose of the primary dose series.
The boosters will be given in fixed vaccination sites, temporary posts, and mobile vaccination facilities, including clinics, pharmacies, drugstores, and schools, as well as during house-to-house vaccination activities of local government units.
Meanwhile, the DOH said it expects all vaccination sites nationwide to heighten their efforts to administer booster shots to those 18 years and older.
Vergeire said around 40 million fully-inoculated Filipinos are due to receive their booster shots.
“The booster dose uptake is at mere 26 percent. So we are still looking for the 74 percent of our eligible population to receive their booster shots,” she said.
DOH data show almost 15 million individuals have had their booster.
Vergeire, who will take over the NVOC during the transition to the Marcos administration, said among the activities being lined up to increase booster dose coverage is be the return of the National Vaccination Days activities.
