CEBU, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the Health Technology Assessment Council’s (HTAC) recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots and third doses on COVID-19 vaccines but an Emergency Use Authorization(EUA) from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) will be needed before a rollout can begin.
“The secretary has approved the recommendations of HTAC. Lahat ng plano underway na,” said DOH spokesperson, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a virtual presser on Monday.
DOH has already sent a letter to FDA on the application for an EUA.
“Ang Department of Health ang mag-aaply ng EUA sa FDA. Nakapagpadala na po tayo ng initial na sulat sa FDA on our intent to apply for this EUA. Na-submit na po natin yan sa FDA,” Vergeire said.
DOH is also gathering all documents to support the rollout.
“Ngayon po ay nagkakalap tayo na makumpleto natin ang mga documents required ng FDA, kasama dyan ang mga ebidensya to support na these kinds of practices tulad ng third doses or boosters are safe and effective for the population. Kinukumpleto lang natin,” Vergeire added.
Based on HTAC’s recommendation, the rollout for these booster shots and the third dose for seniors and other immunocompromised is expected to start later this year while others begin next year.
Boosters will be given first to health care workers while an additional dose will be for seniors and other immunocompromised individuals.
HTAC emphasized, however, that this will be offered based on the supply of vaccines and its effectiveness against COVID-19 variants of concern including the Delta variant.
“We emphasize that these recommendations are being offered in consideration of sufficient vaccine supply and acceptable for primary vaccination,” said Dr. Marita Tolentino-Reyes, HTAC chairperson, in a letter to Duque.
For next year, HTAC has recommended the implementation of boosters or additional doses according to the order of the current prioritization of vaccination and inoculation of at least 70 percent of the total target population in hotspot areas, including Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
These booster shots will be given only at least six months after the vaccine have received their primary doses. A shorter period will be needed for those who are immunocompromised.
Two booster vaccination strategies can be used.
Pfizer-BioNTech and Janseen, which are both “homologous”, will use the same brand as booster.
Modern and AstraZeneca may be homologous or heterologous with Pfizer as the preferred booster.
CoronaVac(Sinovac) can also be homologous or heterologous with Pfizer and AstraZeneca as the preferred brands for the booster. — JMO (FREEMAN)