MANILA, Philippines — The national government plans to administer booster shots to health workers by November 2021. Health workers were the first batch to receive COVID-19 jabs once inoculation started on March and April.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. announced that supplies are now ready. Over one million health workers are eligible to receive booster shots. Galvez noted that before the booster rollout can begin, the Department of Health should need to authorize the shots. An Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA is also needed to start the booster rollout.
The proposed rollout must also comply with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The United States Food and Drug Administration authorized booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine last September.
We really need to administer the third dose just like what other countries are now doing. We already have supply for when the WHO and the DOH approve this additional shot.
Vaccine czar carlito galvez jr.
Once cleared by the DOH and FDA, the rollout may begin by November. According to Galvez, the latest date for the booster rollout for health workers would be on January 2022.
The Philippines is expecting delivery of large doses of COVID-19 vaccines this October. Pilot inoculations for adolescents from ages 12-17 is scheduled to start on the 15th of October.