DOH warning vs 2nd booster

CEBU, Philippines —  Vaccinators and their vaccination sites, as well as local government units, will be held liable if found administering a second booster shot or fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to individuals not covered by guidelines approved by the Department of Health (DOH).

As of this writing, only specific immunocompromised individuals are allowed a second booster shot.

“Para naman po doon sa nagbibigay, just like to advise our vaccination sites, kung ano lang po ang ang meron tayong guidelines galing sa Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, yun lang po sana ang ating ipapatupad,” said DOH spokesperson, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire said they have been receiving reports of some individuals getting a second booster shot even if they are not covered by the guidelines.

“Marami po kaming naririnig na nagbibigay na ng fourth doses even in the general population… wag po nating gawin yan dahil wala pa po tayong rekomendasyon… at guidelines hinggil dyan,” Vergeire said during a virtual presser on May 13, 2022.

Should those having received the shot experience serious side effects, the vaccinators and their vaccination site, as well as the LGU where the site is located, will be held liable.

“Kapag mayroon pong naging ibang effect or adverse events ang mga kababayan natin na nabigyan nitong fourth dose na hindi naman kasama sa ating current guidelines, maari po na ang mananagot ay yung vaccination site , yung local government at pati na yung nagturok ng bakuna na yun… because national government only recommended and provided guidelines  specific sa immunocompromised,” Vergeire said.

DOH is yet awaiting guidelines for seniors and health care workers.

“At ngayon inaantay natin, maaring by next week, ang ating mga senior citizens and health care workers… Maliban dyan, sa general population, wala pa po tayong guidelines… wala pang rekomendasyon ang ating experto,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said they have already asked for the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) recommendation on the appeal of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) for a fourth dose.

“We already have seek the recommendations of HTAC regarding our appeal OFWs and senior citizens… ito ay pinag-aararalan pa lang ng DOH… sa mga susunod na araw,  magpapalabas po tayo ng information and guidelines so we can start to doing this,” she said.

Vergeire called all vaccination implementing units to follow the guidelines.

“Sana po, lahat ng ating implementing units ay sumunod sa ating mga pamantayan sa ating mga kababayanan,” Vergeire said.

She also called on the public to get a fourth shot only when it is already recommended by experts.

“Gusto ko lang ibigay na abiso sa inyo na sana po wag tayong tumanggap ng fourth doses  kung hindi pa po ayon sa inyo batay po sa rekomendasyon ng ating expert… Tandaan po natin, bago ang mga bakunang ito kaya kailangan nang masusing pagsusuri bago natin ibigay ang rekomendasyon,” Vergeire said.

Immunocompromised

For Filipinos who are immunocompromised, HTAC recommended a fourth dose of AstraZeneca, CoronaVac, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinopharm for 18 years old and above, granting they received the third dose or the first booster shot at least three months prior.

HTAC has a preference for mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) based on available real-world evidence on the immunogenicity and safety of a fourth dose among the immunocompromised, including individuals who have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood; those who have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system; and those who have undergone stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.

A second booster shot has also been recommended for individuals with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome), as well as for those with advanced or untreated HIV infection and active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response.

It has also been recommended to those on chronic dialysis, people living with autoimmune disease, those receiving treatment with specific immunosuppressive medications, and those diagnosed with conditions considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise as advised by the physician like severe malnutrition.

Vaccination Status

As of this writing, at least 68.2 million Filipinos have been vaccinated fully – 2.3 million from the five to 11 years old bracket, 9.2 million from the 12 – 17 years old bracket, 50.2 million from the 18-59 years old bracket, and 6.5 million from the 60 years old and above bracket.

Booster shot numbers, however, remain low, Vergeire said. She did not disclose figures during the presser.

Booster shots are needed since effectiveness of vaccines wanes but DOH emphasized it should be administered following guidelines from the department.

Petition

Meanwhile, various groups are asking the Supreme Court to declare as null and void any government policy that makes COVID vaccination mandatory for being allegedly constitutional and violative of international laws.

A petition was filed by Covid Call To Humanity (CCH), Concerned Doctors And Citizens Of The Philippines (CDCPh), Legal Lightworkers For Life And Liberty (L4), and Juan Dakila (JD) Movement on May 12.

They asked the Supreme Court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against these policies while their petition is being heard.

The lead counsel for the petitioners’ 11-person legal team is Pacifico Agabin, former dean of the UP College of Law and one of the country’s leading experts in Constitutional Law and the Bill of Rights. 

Named respondents in the petition are the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, and Makati City represented by Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay.

“We hope that the Supreme Court will be open and take judicial notice of the massive amount of legal evidence against mandatory vaccinations that we have presented. If the people feel that the government leaders have failed them, they should still be able to rely on the courts to uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” said Atty. Aaron Soguilon, convenor of Juan Dakila movement and a member of the legal team.  - JMO  (FREEMAN)