The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday (Sept. 4) said experts have suggested vaccinating 50% of the population before administering booster shots to A1, A2, and A3 priority groups.
“Well, ‘pag pinag-usapan ho natin ang percentage ng population to be vaccinated, unang-una kailangan ma-achieve po natin iyong population protection. And when we talk about population protection, we are vaccinating those people who are most vulnerable. So ito po ‘yung healthcare workers, senior citizens at saka iyong mga may comorbidity,” DOH Undersecretary Mario Rosario Vergeire said in the Laging Handa public briefing.
“So iyong ibang eksperto po natin tinatalaga na at least 50% sana ay nabakunahan na para hindi naman po ma-disenfranchise iyong mga taong hindi pa nababakunahan kahit isang dose kung tayo po ay sasabak na sa booster dosing,” she said.
Vergeire said the Vaccine Expert Panel has given the recommendation that booster shots may be administered to healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals
“So ito pong Vaccine Expert Panel ang kanilang mandato ay para suriin kung magiging safe at saka magiging efficacious ang mga bakunang ito kung gagamitin for booster. And they have given that recommendation na pwede naman sa healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals,” Vergeire said.
Meanwhile, vaccine czar and National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said Sinovac is willing to donate 500,000 boosters.
“We are now negotiating with four manufacturers. That most likely we can get the supply that we will be needing either by the end of the fourth quarter or early first quarter,” he said.
“We have already allocated P45 billion for the possible payments for the negotiation of the boosters. We are looking at the possibility that we are signing some term sheet, what we call non-binding term sheet, in order to lock in for boosters,” Galvez added. – PG – rir
