By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday (June 3) reminded COVID-19 vaccine recipients to get their second doses on time, amid reported incidents of missed schedules.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said completing the required doses offers better protection against COVID-19. He added that those who were not able to receive their second shot as scheduled can still get vaccinated.
“We urge you to coordinate with your LGUs [local government units] to reschedule your vaccination. Makukuha lang natin ang proteksyon ng mga bakuna laban sa COVID-19 sa kumpletong doses,” Duque said.
Dr. Ted Herbosa, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 consultant, said in a June 3 Rise and Shine Pilipinas interview that the first dose’s protection has a tendency to weaken.
“‘Yung first dose, nag-we-wane ‘yun at humihina ang protection after several months. ‘Yung ang findings doon sa study, kaya ibinibigay karamihan ng mga bakuna na two doses, pero iba-iba ang interval,” Herbosa said.
Meanwhile, the DOH clarified in a statement that data presented during the recent DOH Town Hall session on COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization, Masterlisting, and Registration on the matter “were independent assessments by health experts and may differ from actual numbers.”
“The reported missed schedules for the second dose are estimates and based on certain assumptions. According to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, actual numbers show that 9% of people have deferred their second dose, roughly 113,000 individuals,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
She added that among the common reasons for deferring the second jab are getting sick, getting exposed to a COVID-19 patient, or undergoing quarantine.
The DOH said the numbers will decline as LGUs reach out to the recipients. -jlo#
Watch full interview with Dr. Ted Herbosa:
