MANILA, Philippines — Young people aged 12 to 17 with impaired immune systems may now receive booster shots to increase their protection against COVID-19, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
Around 238,000 immunocompromised adolescents who have completed their primary doses are eligible for boosters, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.
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They can receive booster shots at least 28 days after completing their primary series. To date, only Pfizer vaccines can be given to them.
Vergeire urged the rest of the adolescent population to wait for their turn to receive additional doses.
“Ang ibang kabataan na 12 to 17 years old ay isusunod na rin soon. Maybe by next week or a couple of days after the immunocompromised,” Vergeire said.
(Other adolescents aged 12 to 17 will be vaccinated soon. Maybe by next week or a couple of days after the immunocompromised.)
Here’s what you need to know about the administration of boosters to the said age group:
Who are considered immunocompromised?
- Individuals who have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Individuals who had received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Individuals who received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicines to suppress the immune system
- Individuals with moderate or severe immunodeficiency such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
- Individuals with advance or untreated HIV infection
- Individuals with active cancer treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response
- Individuals on chronic dialysis
- People living with autoimmune disease, and treatment with specific immunosuppressive medications
- Individuals diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromised state as advised by attending physician such as severe malnutrition
How to schedule appointment for boosters?
Medical centers and hospitals will be the ones to schedule appointment for booster administration.
Those without attending physicians and/or those who are not regularly visiting a health facility will be coordinated by the Community Health Officers or Rural Health Units for vaccination in specific hospital-based vaccination sites.
What are the requirements to get boosted?
- Vaccination card with complete details of the administered primary series
- Medical certificate given by attending physician or physician detailing the comorbidity/ies of the vaccine recipient
- Document/s to prove filiation
- Valid ID or documents with photos of the parent or guardian and the vaccine recipient to verify documents presented such as passport
Parents or guardians need to accompany vaccine recipients, the DOH said.
What happens if the parent or guardian cannot accompany their children on the day of vaccination?
Accompanying adult need to present a Special Power of Attorney.
The following documents can be used as alternatives:
- Notarized authorization letter
- Affidavit of parent or guardian under an oath with a public official such as the notary public or a person authorized to do so (such as a barangay official) with presentation of a valid government ID
- Barangay certification issued by the barangay captain
Are walk-ins allowed?
Yes. DOH said that vaccination sites in medical centers and hospitals will accommodate walk-ins and any referrals from community health officers or rural health units or any health facility as long as the needed documents are presented.