The rollout of the administration of booster doses for senior citizens and third doses for immunocompromised individuals belonging to A2 and A3 categories, respectively, kicked off on Monday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that senior citizens should be given booster shots and not third doses following the discussion with vaccine experts last week.
Vergeire noted that on October 4, the World Health Organization (WHO) interim recommendations stated that immunocompromised individuals, couldn’t mount that adequate immune response that they need so they should be given the third dose.
Immunocompromised individuals have either of the following conditions:
Immunodeficiency state
HIV
Active cancer/malignancy
Transplant patients
Patients under immunosuppressive treatments
The DOH and National Vaccination Operation Center stressed that the administration of booster doses is conducted in a phased approach and is not yet available for the general population.
Senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals may receive a booster shot at least 6 months after being fully vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Gamaleya, and at least 3 months after inoculation with single-dose Janssen.
The Priority Group A1 (A1 to A1.7) shall receive a single dose of Covid-vaccine as a booster dose, either a homologous or a heterologous dose.
Heterologous dose refers to the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine of a different brand from the vaccine that was used to complete the primary vaccine series. The homologous dose refers to the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine of the same brand from the vaccine that was used to complete the primary vaccine series.
As a homologous booster dose:
Individuals given with Sinovac Covid-19 primary dose series may be given with a Sinovac vaccine dose as a booster dose.
Individuals given Pfizer may receive Pfizer as a booster dose
Individuals given Moderna may receive Moderna as booster dose
Individuals given AstraZeneca may receive AstraZeneca as booster dose
As a heterologous booster dose:
Individuals inoculated Sinovac as primary dose series may be administered with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or a Moderna Covid-19 vaccine dose as a booster dose.
Individuals given AstraZeneca shots may be given a Pfizer or a Moderna shot as a booster dose
Individuals given with Gamaleya Sputnik V may be given AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or a Moderna Covid-19 vaccine dose as a booster dose
Individuals given with Janssen may be administered with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or a Moderna Covid-19 vaccine dose as a booster dose
Individuals given with Pfizer may be given AstraZeneca or a Moderna Covid-19 vaccine dose as a booster dose
Individuals given with Moderna may be given AstraZeneca or Pfizer as a booster dose.