THE Department of Health yesterday reminded local government units (LGUs) to stop giving second COVID-19 booster shots to the general population, and instead instead stick to guidelines on who should be getting the shots.
The DOH issued the reminder after getting reports that some LGUs continue to provide second booster shots to the general population.
The second booster is allowed only for persons with comorbidities, those 50 years and older, and healthcare workers.
Some LGUs have also asked the DOH to already expand the coverage of second booster doses to the general population to avoid wasting more vaccines, particularly those set to expire.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH officer-in-charge, said LGUs must stop giving booster shots to those not listed in the guidelines which “are based on science and evidence.”
“There is no evidence that the second booster shots can give the general population more protection,” she said in a press conference.
She said giving unauthorized second booster will prevent the general population from getting bivalent doses once they become available “since you have to consider the required intervals.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) appealed to private sector employers to excuse their employees from work if the workers are having themselves vaccinated during the three-day mass vaccination program that will end today.
“Employers are highly encouraged to allow their employees to be excused from work without being considered absent,” DOLE said in an advisory.
In particular, DOLE said employees due to get vaccinated as well as those who will experience adverse vaccine-related effects may be excused from going to work.
DOLE also sought to be excused those who will accompany their children on their scheduled vaccination days and those who have to take care of their children who experience adverse vaccine-related effects.
Since Monday until today (Wednesday), the Department of Health has been conducting mass vaccination activities nationwide under the “Bakunahang Bayan” program.
The vaccination drive seeks to reach children 5 to 11 years old as well as adolescents and adults due for booster shots.
