THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday told vaccination sites nationwide to strictly observe guidelines and protocols in administering second booster shots of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
In a statement, the DOH stressed that only frontline healthcare workers who belong to the A1 priority group of the national vaccination program, senior citizens (A2), and immunocompromised adults are allowed to receive a second booster shot or a fourth dose.
“The DOH is currently coordinating with all regional vaccination operation centers (RVOCs) to strictly comply,” it said.
Instead of administering second booster shots to those outside the allowed groups, vaccination sites should focus on administering primary doses and first booster shots, it said.
Records show 69.75 million individuals have been fully vaccinated but only 14.5 million have received booster shots. Around 557,000 individuals have received their second booster doses.
“RVOCs should focus efforts on administering the first booster shot (third dose) to improve coverage, before giving second boosters,” said the DOH.
“We have 54 million eligible for boosters but only 14.5 million have gotten booster shots.
We are looking for the 40 million that are eligible for booster shots,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a radio interview.
The statement was issued as some local government units have started administering second booster doses to the general population.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last week said the Duterte government is unlikely to reach its target of fully vaccinating 77 million individuals by end of this month. The original target was 90 million.
President Duterte ends his six-year term on June 30. His government started the national vaccination program on March 1 last year.
