Inanunsiyo ng Department of Health (DOH) na maari nang magpaturok ng booster shot ang mga fully vaccinated tatlong buwan matapos ang kanilang second dose ng COVID 19 vaccine.
Sa inilabas na pahayag ng kagawaran, ang bagong ‘interval’ para sa booster doses ay inaprubahan na ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at magiging epektibo ito simula ngayon araw.
“Following the amended Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccine boosters, the Department of Health would like to inform the public that all adults (ages 18 and above) are now eligible to receive a single-dose booster of COVID-19 vaccine at least three months after the second dose of AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, or Sputnik vaccine, or at least two months after Janssen effective 22 December 2021,” ayon sa DOH advisory.
Katuwiran pa ng DOH ang hakbang ay bahagi ng istratehiya para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng Omicron variant ng COVID 19.
“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 that may emerge,” sabi ni Health Sec. Francisco Duque III.
Nilinaw naman ng DOH na hindi pa inirerekomenda ang booster shots sa mga nasa edad 12 hanggang 17.