Gov't urged 'catch up' in administering boosters vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The government needs to catch up in rolling out COVID-19 booster doses to the public while cases are going down, Sen, Sonny Angara said on Monday. 

He also said that qualified seniors must be prioritized in getting boosters. 

A booster shot or the third COVID-19 vaccine is administered to fully-vaccinated individuals who have completed their prescribed primary doses.

In late December last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the roll-out of booster shots for those 18 and above. 

READ: FDA OKs COVID-19 booster shots for adults

"The initial rollout of the vaccination program was slow but now that we have an ample supply of vaccines, we expect even more people to receive their primary doses, including the minors at the soonest possible time," the lawmaker said in a statement shared with reporters on Viber. 

"It is also time for the authorities to catch up on the administration of booster shots as only eight million have so far received their third doses. We should be just as aggressive in promoting and delivering these booster shots so that we can provide our people with ample protection against COVID," he added. 

So far, more than 60 million Filipinos are fully-vaccinated, according to estimates from Angara's office. 

For him, the elderly must be prioritized in receiving their boosters, adding that it is up to health authorities and local government units to actively reach out senior citizens during vaccination efforts.

"Our seniors are among the most vulnerable to severe ailments brought about by COVID and with the findings indicating that the level of immunity from the initial doses of the vaccines going down after several months, it is crucial that they are given the booster doses as a priority group."

He noted that the government should keep up its information campaign for seniors since many of them are still hesistant in getting vaccinated. 

Angara is the principal sponsor of Republic Act 11525, or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act, which seeks to establish a program expediting vaccine procurement against the deadly virus. 

His statements comes shortly after the acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles confirmed that Metro Manila and 38 other places will be placed under Alert Level 1, the most lenient category in the alert level system, starting March 1.

Under the loosest alert level, all establishments are allowed to operate and schedule at full on-site activities. But business owners and event organizers are required to abide to health protocols like ensuring proper ventilation, requiring face masks, and following the proper handwashing.

READ: Metro Manila, 38 other areas under loosest Alert Level 1 from March 1