CEBU, Philippines — An additional dose and booster shots can now be done based on the priority order after the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally approved the amended emergency use authorization (EUA) for at least four COVID-19 vaccine brands.
With this, health care workers (HCWs) may take the booster shots beginning today, November 17.
In Central Visayas, there are now 131,989 fully vaxxed HCWs belonging to A1 priority group (frontline HCWs) for COVID-19 vaccination.
No specific vaccination sites are set, but HCWs can just go to accredited vaccination sites provided they bring their vaccination cards/certificates indicating the dates and vaccines received on their primary shots.
Booster shots can now be given to those who have already been fully vaccinated for at least three to six months.
The approved four vaccine brands are Pfizer for homologous use, AstraZeneca (homologous), Sinovac (homologous), and Sputnik Light as a heterologous booster plus that of the Department of Health’s heterologous vaccine combination.
“Homologous meaning, same po yung vaccine ng first dose and second dose and same din po yung third vaccine…Yung pong Sputnik nag apply po sya ng amendment ng EUA to be used as homologous additional dose, same vaccine at saka to be used as a heterologous booster… ibig po sabihin ay gagamitin siyang booster sa mga tao na nakatanggap ng ibang bakuna na nauna sa primary nila,” said FDA Director General Eric Domingo during the Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Duterte.
On DOH’s advisory, it recommended using either Moderna, Pfizer or Sinovac as booster doses regardless of the brand used for the primary series (first two doses).
Sinovac will also be offered as a booster for those that had Sinovac as a primary series, the same DOH announcement said.
Based on the guidelines from the National Vaccination Operations Center, as heterologous additional dose, those given with Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Gamaleya Sputnik V as primary dose series may be given either Pfizer or Moderna as an additional dose.
For Pfizer, they may have Moderna as an additional dose while Moderna may be given with Pfizer on the third shot.
FDA also said that individuals who may fail to mount an adequate response to a primary series of vaccines such as senior citizens and patients 18 above who are diagnosed with immunocompromised conditions may also get additional/booster shots. This however, will also be depending on the vaccine coverage of the area where they are.
Meanwhile, Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city will thoroughly discuss the distribution of booster shots.
“Anything that will be pursued, we will be pursuing, we always take the matters with consultation and with much serious circumspection so with caution,” said Rama.
“We must be very careful about this whole mechanism,” he added.
Rama said he received an offer to take a booster shot against COVID-19 last October.
He refused to accept it because, as for him, to take a booster shot first is not a good example of leadership.
“Because for me, getting into a booster ahead is not leadership… If it is required that I should take a booster, then the circumstances are dependent upon that matter,” said Rama.
Rama did not disclose though who offered him the booster shot.
Vax raffle draw
With regard to the “PabakunaTa Bonanza,” which was launched last week, Rama said they will check by the end of the month on how it affected the campaign of the city government for the COVID-19 vaccination.
“We’ll be checking it before the end of November. When I come back, then I will do a comparative from the time we proceeded on this program, (and) where they are when I come back,” he said.
The “PabakunaTa Bonanza” would give COVID-19 vaccinated individuals in the city the chance to win prizes like a brand-new car and a house and lot.
This is an incentive program by the city government to encourage more people to avail of the COVID-19 vaccine.
All those who received their first dose or second dose, and who registered via pabakunata.com are qualified for the promo. The raffle draws will be made electronically.
Rama is hopeful that the city will achieve herd immunity before the year ends, stating that his party, BARUG PDP-Laban will continuously urge the residents to have themselves vaccinated.
“This is a party that is really for vaccination. If we all will tell everybody up to the household, then there’s no reason why by December, there will definitely be a merry Christmas and a happy new year because the way to liberation is vaccination,” he said. — Mary Ruth R. Malinao, KQD (FREEMAN)