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| Vials of the CoronaVac vaccine, developed by China's Sinovac firm, are displayed in Bangkok, as the first batch of vaccines to battle the Covid-19 coronavirus arrive in the kingdom. (Photo by=Lillian Suwanrumpha/ AFP) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — The Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) is studying whether people administered with the Sinovac vaccine should be given booster shots to strengthen their protection against COVID, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said yesterday, PhilStar reported. At a public briefing, Duque said the VEP has not recommended booster shots for those who have completed their inoculation. But he said should the VEP recommend giving them a third dose, those who are immunocompromised will be prioritized.
“If ever we consider that, just like in other countries, the immunocompromised will likely be prioritized. But for the general population, there is no recommendation that booster shots are needed,” he said. Duque issued the statement in reaction to a study that the antibodies generated by the Sinovac vaccine fade after about six months. The study showed that administering a booster dose may help maintain the vaccine’s efficacy.
Earlier, the DOH defined immunocompromised as those with autoimmune disease, HIV, cancer patients currently undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, transplant patients, those undergoing steroid treatment, and patients who are bedridden or with a poor prognosis. Duque said there is no recommendation for booster shots yet for the general population. He said the VEP is still gathering all necessary information that could guide the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Vaccination Operations Center.
