Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said they will recommend to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the reduction of booster shot administration interval from six months to just three to four months.
This is amid the threat of the Omicron variant which is more transmissible compared to the Delta variant.
“We have to maximize ‘yung jabbing, particularly ‘yung sa boosters ng A1, A2, and A3 kasi nakita namin mga 700,000 pa lang nagpapa-boosters,” Galvez said.
“Sa akin naman, nakita ko kaya naman eh, dahil kasi we can expand the inoculation and administration considering we have more than enough vaccines coming in,” he added.
There are 62 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines currently stockpiled and 52 million doses more are set to arrive in the country.
Meanwhile, Galvez, who currently serves as the chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said expiring COVID-19 vaccines with extended shelf life are still safe for use.
“Normally ‘yung expiry date mayroon siyang extended shelf life lalo na kapag maganda ‘yung handling natin at ‘pag na-evaluate ng mga experts na ‘yung vaccine natin is still very effective at well preserved ang kanyang efficacy,” he said.
Bayanihan Bakunahan round 2
In preparation for the second round of the next national vaccination days, Galvez and NTF deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon inspected a mall site in Bacoor, together with Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla.
They assured that the government is ready for the conduct of the second round of Bayanihan Bakunahan event on Dec. 15 to 17.
“Wala tayong kulang na vaccine, at sufficient din ‘yung ating mga auxiliary supplies kasama na ang syringes,” Dizon said.
With the seven million to nine million doses target, the government expects to increase the number of fully vaccinated individuals as the second dose administration will be prioritized in the drive. – Report from Patrick de Jesus/AG-rir
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