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Philippines OKs booster shots for health workers starting Nov. 17

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Philippines OKs booster shots for health workers starting Nov. 17
Undated photo shows health workers in full personal protective equipment against COVID-19
The STAR / Miguel de Guzman, file

MANILA, Philippines — Health workers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can begin getting booster shots starting November 17, the Department of Health announced Monday night.

The agency's pronouncement came as it said the Food and Drug Administration had issued an emergency use authorization for the booster doses. 

Authorities approved last month a government panel's recommendation to administer the shots by end of this year. 

DOH in a statement said it recommends using Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses "regardless of the brand used for the primary series."

"Sinovac will also be offered as a booster for those that had Sinovac as primary series," it added.

Officials said final guidelines for the efforts would be released by the National Vaccine Operations Center later today. 

The Philippines began its inoculation drive in March, then struggling with issues on supply of the jabs, vaccine hesitancy, and twice a resurgence in coronavirus cases. 

Eight months later, some 31.57 million have since completed their COVID-19 shots. 

That translates to 40.93% of the government's target of inoculating 77.13 million this year. 

Some 38.14 million or 49.45% have received a first dose. This month, officials are targeting to ramp up daily vaccinations to a million to 1.5 million doses administered per day. — Christian Deiparine

BOOSTER SHOT

COVID-19 VACCINES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

HEALTH WORKERS

MODERNA

PFIZER

SINOVAC

As It Happens
LATEST UPDATE: August 7, 2023 - 2:21pm

A new thread on the Philippines' vaccination program in 2021 in the government's revised objective to reach "population protection." Bookmark our COVID-19 and Vaccination Dashboard for the latest figures on the pandemic in the Philippines. — Main image: The STAR/Michael Varcas, file

August 7, 2023 - 2:21pm

The city government of Valenzuela City announces that it is temporarily suspending the use of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as they wait for more vaccine supplies.

July 25, 2023 - 12:40pm

Pasig City government announces the schedule of COVID-19 vaccination in the city from July 15 until July 28.

It advises residents that first, second dose and first and 2nd booster shots are available on a first come, first serve basis in its designated vaccination sites. 

Among the available vaccine brands is Sinovac for 6 years old and above. It adds that there are no Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines yet for residents age 12 and above.

June 21, 2023 - 8:56am

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to lead the rollout of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. — The STAR/Helen Flores

June 20, 2023 - 12:35pm

The Department of Health reminds public that they can still avail of the COVID-19 booster and bivalent booster. It reposted an infographic that determines when it is best to get the first two boosters and the bivalent booster.

May 18, 2022 - 3:39pm

Senior citizens and frontline health workers may now get their second booster shots, particularly mRNA jabs such as Moderna and Pfizer, the Department of Health announces. — Gaea Katreena Cabico

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