MANILA – The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) are preparing the logistics for the distribution of the fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose or the second booster.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use authorization of the second booster dose for vulnerable populations that include senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and medical front-liners.
NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a prerecorded Talk to the People aired late Monday night that they are just waiting for a “positive recommendation” from the Health Technology Assessment Council on the administration of the second booster.
“[N]aaprubahan na po ng FDA ang pag-administer po ng fourth dose or ‘yung second booster (The FDA has already approved the administration of fourth dose or the second booster),” Galvez reported to President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Department of Health and NVOC are creating the guidelines and protocols for the rollout, he noted.
Earlier, NVOC chairperson Dr. Myrna Cabotaje emphasized that the vulnerable population must avail of booster shots as immunity wanes over time.
According to Galvez, they are targeting to improve the administration of first booster shots to at least 40 million adults and 10 million children aged 12 to 17.
Only 12,641,887 Filipinos, or 17.52 percent of the 66.9 million fully vaccinated, have obtained the first booster dose so far.
Meanwhile, the government still needs to provide protection to some 1.8 million unvaccinated senior citizens.
