HCWs, seniors can now get second booster

CEBU, Philippines —  Healthcare workers and senior citizens in Cebu City and the rest of Central Visayas may now avail of the second booster shots against Covid-19 following the go signal from the Department of Health and National Vaccination Operations Center.

“Yes we will roll out second booster shots,”

Visayas Vaccination Operation Center (VVOC) spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche told The Freeman yesterday.

Cebu City Health Department chief, Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, also confirmed the same following the announcement from the DOH and NVOC through the National Task Force against Covid-19.

In Central Visayas, there are already 642,331 from all subgroups who have had their first booster already.

For the second booster, there are still 420 as of yet, according to Dr. Loreche.

The second booster doses were first given to the immunocompromised until the Food and Drug Administration granted the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the second booster doses for healthcare workers and the elderly.

In particular, available are the mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer for the second booster doses for the A1 and A2 population.

To note, the DOH, through the NVOC, released Department Memorandum No. 2022-0206 outlining the interim operational guidelines on the administration of the 2nd booster dose for senior citizens and healthcare workers.

“This is the moment we have all been waiting for. After careful study and consideration of the best available evidence, we shall now roll out, effective immediately, the second booster for our frontline health workers and senior citizens,” NVOC chief Myrna Cabotaje said.

She said getting additional boosters is a way lf fight back against the virus and prevent another surge.

“This is part of how we fight back against the virus,” added Cabotaje.

The second booster shot can be availed by the eligible population at least four months after the administration of the first booster dose.

“The second booster for our health workers and senior citizens will enhance protection given by the first booster and the primary series against all variants, including the recent Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1. Against whatever variant there is out there, the second booster supports the 4-Door strategy,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, for his part, also urged all eligible individuals to get their first and booster doses for additional protection against existing and future variants.

Duque also encouraged the unvaccinated to receive their primary series of Covid-19 vaccines.

"To further advance our march to the new normal, we call on every eligible Juan and Juana to get their booster doses and those who have not yet received their primary doses. These vaccines will serve as our protection from existing variants and variants in the future. Together, we can get the job done by getting the jab done,” Duque said. – JMD (FREEMAN)