No booster shot just yet, DOH says

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the threat of the Delta and Lambda variants of coronavirus, the Department of Health is not keen on giving out booster shots at this time.

“Sa kasalukoyan, hindi pa rin po nirerekomenda ng ating mga eksperto ang pagbibigay ng mga booster shots or pangatlo o pang-apat na bakuna sa mga natapos nang bakunahan,” said DOH undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing yesterday with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Vergeire said vaccine alone cannot prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Aside from vaccinations, Vergeire noted the following as equally important in preventing the spread of the disease: following the minimum public health standards, as well as the proper implementation of the prevention detection, isolation, treatment and reintegration (PDITR) strategy of the government.

So far, experts have said that all vaccines remain effective against all variants.

“Sa ngayon po, base po sa pag-aaral sa siyensya, ay epektibo po ang ating mga bakuna sa kahit anong mga variants. Kunin lang po natin ang recommended doses ng bakuna na nakalagay sa ating vaccination card. Ang Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer at Sputnik V ay two doses lamang habang ang Johnson & Johnson ay isa dose lamang,” said Vergeire.

Vergeire added that experts around the world are still doing tests as to when is the right time to have the booster shots, especially that it’s the first time that these vaccines have been used.

“Sa ngayon po pinag-aaralan pa rin ng mga eksperto kung kailan magkaroon ng booster shots COVID vaccines ngayon. Una pa itong ginamit sa buong mundo because of this pandemic, kaya kailangan kumpleto po ang ating ebidensya for safe vaccines to everybody,” Vergeire said.

She likewise said that there are still many Filipinos that need to get vaccinated especially those areas with high number of cases.

“Sana wala munang magpa-booster and walang mag-LGU-hopping at i-reserve natin sa mga kababayan nating hindi pa nababakunahan,” appealed Vergeire.

Food and Drug Administration Director-General Enrique Domingo and DOH consultant Dr. Edsel Salvana earlier said that all vaccines work, adding that though their efficacy may have lessened a bit, they still prevent severity of the disease, and worse, deaths.

“Vaccines are highly effective against severe illness and death caused by the COVID-19 variants, including Delta,” said Domingo.

As for the Lambda variant, Domingo said, it remains a variant of interest as designated by the World Health Organization. This only becomes a variant of concern if it demonstrates an increase in transmission or, worse, clinical course.

“Early reports tend to show a decrease in efficacy of the current vaccines in preventing infection and symptomatic diseases, but retaining protection against severe COVID and death,” said Domingo.

Salvana was more specific in saying that all vaccines prevent 90% or more of severe COVID-19 and death, regardless of variant. — JMD (FREEMAN)