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Philippines cuts COVID-19 booster interval

Gaea Katreena Cabico - Philstar.com
Philippines cuts COVID-19 booster interval
Medical workers prepare Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines during an inoculation drive at a school gym in Taguig City, suburban Manila on December 6, 2021.
AFP / Ted Aljibe

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines shortened the waiting time for COVID-19 booster shots to three months as the country moved to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, the Department of Health said.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said boosters may already be given to adults at least three months after the second dose. Recipients of single-dose vaccines can get booster doses after two months.

The new policy will be effective on December 22, Wednesday.

This was after the country’s Food and Drug Administration shortened the interval for the administration of booster doses.

The waiting time was previously set at a minimum of six months for those vaccinated with two-dose jabs, and at least three months for those immunized with one-shot vaccines.

“We are exploring all possible options to safely mitigate the effects of more transmissible variants of COVID-19. The approval came at an opportune time as several countries also re-strategized in light of the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants as they emerge,” Duque said.

Local health authorities have detected three imported cases of the heavily-mutated Omicron variant.

In November, the Philippines began giving boosters to healthcare workers, senior citizens and people with weakened immune system.

Booster doses are not yet recommended for young people aged 12 to 17.

Latest data showed that over 44.21 million individuals have completed vaccination, while 56.29 million people have received partial protection against COVID-19. 

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COVID-19 VACCINES

OMICRON VARIANT

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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