By Arabella Asis
The Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed during a media forum on Wednesday, April 12, that the second COVID-19 vaccine booster will be available soon to the adult general population.
“Just to remind everybody, ‘yun pong ating second boosters for the general population inaantay lang po natin na mailabas natin ang implementing guidelines at mag-uumpisa na po tayong magbakuna for second boosters for the general population,” Vergeire announced.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, infectious diseases expert and vice president of the Philippine College of Physicians, reiterated the importance of getting a second booster despite low COVID-19 cases.
“Especially for those na nakakuha ng first booster six months or eight months ago, talagang wala nang protection ngayon,” he said during the April 13 Laging Handa press briefing.
“That’s why giving the second booster tataas yung magiging protection, although hindi naman 100% yan – between 60% to 70% – that’s still a good protection against infection and doon sa pagiging severe,” he explained further.
Solante also commented on the possibility of lifting the COVID-19 emergency within this year.
He said there are several factors to consider in the decision, such as low positivity rate, low hospitalization rate, and manageable cases.
The Philippines has been recording less than one thousand cases per day, a positivity rate of five to six percent, and a lower hospitalization rate compared to the past two years.
The government is reminding the public that COVID-19 is still present and citizens should still follow health protocols to avoid a spike in cases. –ag
