The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, Aug. 23, it is open to giving coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster shots to the public once the vaccine supply in the country stabilizes.
In a virtual forum, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said allowing COVID-19 booster shots may not be equitable right now when many Filipinos still have not been vaccinated.
"The IATF has not adopted booster dose in our vaccination program for the simple reason that we do not have the sufficient volume to even provide the first dose for most of our people," Duque said.
He also noted low vaccination coverage for two doses of COVID-19 shots.
However, Duque said the Health Department is open to the idea of administering COVID-19 booster shots once the country gets an ample supply of vaccines.
"We're not shutting the doors for the possibility of translating this into policy once the volume is in, the sufficient supply is in," he added.
Israel has started administering the third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone over the age of 40.
Meanwhile, the United States is planning to make COVID-19 booster shots widely available starting on Sept. 20.