You Can Now Get COVID-19 2nd Booster Shot in the Philippines If You’re Ages 50 Up, 18 to 49 With Comorbidities

The Department of Health (DOH) announces that individuals ages 50 and up, 18 to 49 with comorbidities, can now receive their second COVID-19 booster shot in the Philippines.

The official announcement of the second booster shots for adults was made by the DOH after the recommendation was approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council. In the statement done by the DOH, COVID vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are the only allowable COVID-19 vaccines to be used to be administered after four months upon the inoculation of the first booster shot.

The DOH also announced that an eligible individual would only need to bring his vaccination card and a valid identification card. Medical certificates are not required for those with medical conditions or comorbidities since authorized doctors and medical personnel will assess an individual before the inoculation. Eligible individuals can also check the vaccination schedule with their respective local government units, local medical centers, private health service providers, or authorized vaccination centers.

Before the said inoculation development, the second booster dose was limited to be administered to senior citizens, healthcare frontliners, medical workers, and immunocompromised individuals with existing medical conditions.

This recent move by the DOH to administer the second dose of COVID-19 booster shots to the remaining age groups is also driven by the ongoing new surge of cases in the country due to emerging Omicron sub-variants.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire expressed that they are dedicated to helping and protecting the Filipino people from being safe against the virus. She said that the health sector provides convenience for the masses and allows them to easily avail themselves the complete primary vaccine shots and booster shots. [1]

The DOH also launched a campaign to inoculate COVID-19 booster shots to 23.6 million individuals within the first 100 days of the new national administration. The said campaign also aims to vaccinate 90% target population of senior citizens.

The DOH, its partnered private sectors, and other government agencies are working hand in hand to increase vaccination coverage among Filipinos. Therefore, each Filipino cooperation is needed to stay protected in combat against the surging coronavirus.

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