The government has yet to announce the effectivity date of the administration of booster shots to land and sea-based overseas Filipino workers (OFW) scheduled to leave the country.
National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said in the Nov. 20 Laging Handa briefing that OFWs are included in the A1 priority group of the vaccination program.
“In order to maintain our competitive advantage as well as protect the much-needed livelihood of our OFWs as well as seafarers para ma-secure nila ang kanilang mga foreign deployment at kontrata, ito po ay ipinagpapatuloy na,” Padilla said, quoting vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Dahil po sila ay pasok sa pagiging A1 being the economic frontliners at nagbukas-daan at nagbigay-daan na po tayo sa A1 prioritization, puwede na po itong simulan. Iyan po ay ang huling sagot ni Secretary Galvez,” he added.
The official clarified that only OFWs whose vaccination took place six months ago or earlier will be included in the booster administration.
The Philippines began administering booster shots to healthcare workers on Nov. 17. To date, at least 2,488 medical workers have received their third shot.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said only 2% of the booster recipients experienced adverse reactions such as pain in the injection site, fever, headache, and blood pressure increase.
“All of them were managed accordingly at wala namang na-hospitalize at wala tayong bad outcome,” she said.
Vergeire said they are also finalizing guidelines for the booster shots of senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
“Kailangan kapag immunocompromised, it’s going to be called a third dose. Although pareho nating ibibigay ang choice ng homologous at heterologous para sa kanila,” she said. (PTV News)/AG-rir
Watch the full interview here:
