The Department of Health is still looking into pieces of evidence showing the benefits of administering a third booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government ensures the effectiveness and safety of Covid-19 vaccines, especially for the vulnerable population through studies by the country’s health experts.
“But we need to remove from our thinking, even though there are a lot of vaccines still there in our warehouses, the original ones, we need to administer them despite lack of evidence,” she said.
In Australia, health authorities have recommended against the administration of a third booster shot of Covid-19 vaccine despite reported increase in new infections there.
An evidence from Singapore showed severe cases and deaths among the fully vaccinated during the recent spike in cases and a third booster shot provided minimal effect on the transmission of the virus.
“In terms of giving the third boosters after the second booster, what we’re looking at now would be this incoming or this second generational vaccines, if we can provide this vulnerable population for the immunocompromised and the healthcare workers,” she added.
Earlier, the DOH said the Health Technology Assessment Council has started the initial discussions on Moderna’s bivalent vaccine against Covid-19.
Moderna has committed to deliver their jabs as early as November or December. – PNA
April 20, 2024
