Philippines OKs 2nd COVID-19 booster for general public

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:34 p.m.) — Most Filipinos adults are now eligible to receive second booster shots against COVID-19, the Department of Health announced Wednesday.

“We’re just waiting for the release of the implementing guidelines, then we’ll start administering the second booster for the general population,” Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing. The general population refers to “healthy adults.”

The move came after the country’s Food and Drug Administration updated the emergency use authorization granted to COVID-19 vaccines and the Health Technology Assessment Council issued a positive recommendation.

Initially, only health workers, immunocompromised individuals, and senior citizens were allowed to take their fourth vaccine shot.

Latest government data showed that more than 78.4 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Over 23.8 million people have received their first booster dose and nearly 4.4 million have gotten their second booster shot.

Vergeire also said that some COVID-19 vaccines may be granted certificates of product registration. A CPR is issued by the Food and Drug Administration to manufacturers to distribute, market, or sell their products to the public.

Unvaccinated cases

As the government expands the rollout of second booster jabs, Vergeire reiterated that vaccines are safe and effective against all variants of COVID-19.

The health official added the number of unvaccinated people who contracted COVID-19 increased by 13% last month.

“As we see a slight increase in cases among unvaccinated individuals, we continue to remind our people to get our jabs and boosters done to remain protected against the virus,” Vergeire said.

According to a survey conducted in December 2022 by polling firm Social Weather Stations revealed that 69% of the estimated 9.5 million adult Filipinos who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 still refuse to get the shot.

The Philippines has confirmed over 4.08 million COVID-19 cases, including 66,429 deaths, since the pandemic started in 2020.