MANILA – Citing some experts, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday that the country must first vaccinate at least 50% of the population before considering booster shots.
“[I]yong ibang eksperto natin tinatalaga na at least 50 percent sana ay nabakunahan na para hindi naman ma-disenfranchise iyong mga taong hindi pa nababakunahan kahit isang dose kung tayo po ay sasabak na sa booster dosing (Some of our experts have suggested having 50 percent vaccinated population before getting into booster dosing so as not to disenfranchise those who yet to receive their first dose),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a Laging Handa briefing.
However, Vergeire said that the ultimate goal should be to accomplish “population protection”, or the immunization of up to 70 million people in the country.
“[W]hen we talk about population protection, we are vaccinating those people who are most vulnerable,” she said.
According to Vergiere, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will release a recommendation on September 6 based on discussions with multiple expert groups.
Aside from that, the task team will study vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17, but Vergeire did not specify when the immunization may begin.
“Kailangan natin tingnan iyong safety, pangalawa po siyempre ilang populasyon or ilang number ng mga bata ang kailangan nating bakunahan para makita natin (We need to ensure its safety and of course we need to know first how many children need to be vaccinated) how it’s going to be part of the vaccination program based on the supplies that we have right now,” she said.
“[H]indi po natin sinasabing hindi natin gagawin, sinasabi lang ho natin pag-aaralan at magbibigay na po ng rekomendasyon sa Lunes ang ating mga eksperto (We’re not saying we’re not going to do it; we just need to study it first and our experts will give their recommendation on Monday),” she added.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for children on Friday, allowing it to be administered to people aged 12 and above.
