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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