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It may take a year to know if COVID-19 booster shots are needed, medical expert says
It may take a year to know if COVID-19 booster shots are needed, medical expert says
A medical expert said Wednesday, March 3, that it may take a year before vaccine developers can determine how long the vaccine immunity lasts and to know if those who got doses of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines need to receive booster shots annually.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of DOST’s Vaccine Expert Panel, said there is no available data yet on the duration of the immunity of those who already got the COVID-19 jabs.
“Malalaman din natin pag natapos na ang mga safety trials after one year kasi makukuha na natin ang data nila (We will know that after the completion of the safety trials after one year because we will get their data,” he told the ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo in an interview.
He said currently, the vaccine developers were monitoring the level of antibodies of those who received COVID-19 vaccines.
“Malaking bagay na hintayin ang mga data after safety trials (Waiting data after safety trials is a big factor),” he said.
So far, Sinovac Biotech, Clover Pharmaceuticals, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have been given the green light to conduct their Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines.
Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals started last month its Phase 3 vaccine clinical trials.
Sinovac Biotech will likely conduct its clinical trials among the elderly in April.
Solante said COVID-19 survivors or those who contracted COVID-19 can receive vaccines as long as they do not experience symptoms.
“As long as you have the symptoms and infections, hindi pa puwede (you cannot be vaccinated), talagang dun ka bibigyan kung fully recovered ka na (you will be given if you are fully recovered),” he said.
“Ang mga sabi ng eksperto kung hindi ka naman dun sa priority, at least you have to wait for two to three months kasi meron ka pa namang antibodies (According to experts, if you are not included in the priority list, at least you have to wait for two to three months because you already have antibodies),” he added.
He said it was recommended that COVID-19 vaccine should be administered alone, and not within 14 days before or after any other vaccination.
“Hindi pinapag-sabay ang COVID-19 vaccination sa iba’t ibat klaseng bakuna. At least may pagitan na 14 days or dalawang linggo para sigurado tayo na walang interference sa antibodies (COVID-19 vaccination can be done with other types of vaccines. At least there is lull of 14 days or two weeks to ensure that there is no antibodies’ interference,” Solante said.