Probe ordered on 2nd boosters for ineligible

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday ordered an investigation on the administration of second COVID boosters to individuals who are not immunocompromised.

In a statement, the DOH said it is looking into reports that a hospital in Metro Manila gave second booster shots to health care workers (HCWs) and senior citizens who are not considered immunocompromised.

The DOH said the hospital management explained that they unintentionally misinterpreted the guidelines on second booster shots.

Based on the amended emergency use authorization of the Food and Drug Administration, a second booster can be given to the immunocompromised, senior citizens and frontline HCWs.

But upon the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC), the DOH approved second booster dosing initially only among the immunocompromised.

This was because HTAC is still reviewing evidence for the elderly and frontline HCWs.

The DOH said that along with the National Vaccination Operations Center, it is currently coordinating with relevant health care facilities and vaccination sites to prevent further instances of these events.

“The DOH continues to encourage the eligible population to avail themselves of the primary series of COVID vaccines and the first booster shots, all proven to be safe and effective in protecting against severe and critical symptoms brought by the virus,” the agency said.

As of Monday, some 690,000 of the 2.3 million individuals belonging to the A3 priority group or those with comorbidities were targeted for second booster shots.

Higher hesitancy

While most Filipinos are willing or have been vaccinated with two doses of COVID vaccines, a survey conducted by the OCTA Research Group found slightly higher hesitancy when it comes to getting booster doses.

Results of a March 5 to 10 survey released yesterday showed that 13 percent of the survey respondents were not willing to get a booster shot.

The figure is composed of six percent who said they would “surely not get” a booster shot and seven percent who said they would “probably not get” it.

Another 10 percent said they were not sure if they would get a booster shot or not.

Based on the survey, 26 percent of the respondents said they have received a third dose of a COVID vaccine.

Some 51 percent were willing to receive it, including 34 percent who said they would “surely get” a booster shot and 17 percent who said they would “probably get” it.

Hesitancy for a COVID booster shot is highest among respondents in Mindanao, with 21 percent saying they will surely or probably not get it.

It was followed by those in the Visayas with 16 percent, Balance Luzon with nine and Metro Manila with seven percent.

Asked why they are not inclined to get a booster dose, 53 percent of those unwilling said they were not sure if it is safe.

Another 35 percent believed that a booster dose is not needed to combat COVID, while 15 percent said they are not sure if it is effective.

The same survey found that only 67 percent of the respondents have heard, watched or read that the first two doses of COVID vaccine would weaken after six months.

Some 93 percent said they are aware that a third dose is needed three to six months after the second dose.

On receiving the first two doses, the OCTA poll found that 88 percent of the respondents have been vaccinated with at least one dose.

Another three percent said they were willing to get vaccinated against COVID, while seven percent said they were not willing to get the first two doses.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- three percent.

Replace near expiry vaccines

Duque said the COVAX Facility might replace the expired vaccines and those that are about to expire.

“COVAX, in principle, said in a letter that it is willing to replace expired and near expiring vaccines,” Duque said.

He said the DOH communicated with COVAX through WHO representative Rejandra Yadev.

“But whether this will include those procured by national and local government and private sector remains to be seen. This has to be discussed because right now, they are doing a COVAX audit,” he added.

COVAX Facility is a system under the WHO that facilitates the donation of COVID vaccine among countries.

The DOH can not ascertain how many vaccine doses have expired or about to expire.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier the DOH was coordinating with vaccine manufacturers to extend the “shelf life” of vaccines that are about to expire.

Vergeire gave assurance that the Philippines’ vaccine wastage is only two percent of the more than 244 million doses delivered to the country.

She said the figure is within the two-percent vaccine wastage set by WHO.

Vaccine wastage pertains to vaccines that have expired as well as damaged by calamities, contaminants or precipitation. – Janvic Mateo