The Department of Health (DOH) appealed to the public not to take a third dose or booster shot of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines yet---- as many Filipinos remain unvaccinated.
"Sana isipin niyo, yung bakunang itinurok sa inyo na pangatlong beses niyong nakuha, ninakaw niyo ang bakuna para sa ibang tao na dapat sila ang meron. Maaaring ikamatay nila ito (I hope you realize that the third dose of vaccine you had-- you actually stole it from another person who could have that vaccine instead. They could die)," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during an online briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
“It’s a line between the death of an individual versus you getting your contentment kasi nakuha mo yung bakuna na hindi naman dapat para sa iyo (because you got the vaccine that should not be for you),” she added.
Vergeire said that it is time for the public to show their compassion.
“Sana po sa ating mga kababayan, magkaroon po tayo ng malasakit sa ating kapwa. Let us follow the protocols now. Dadating tayo diyan sa booster dosing (I hope the public will show their compassion to their fellow citizens. Let us follow the protocols now. We will soon get there with regards to booster dosing),” she said.
The country’s vaccine experts panel is still studying the safety of administering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, said the health official.
“Hindi pa kumpletong evidence para sa safety, hindi pa kumpleto ang ebidensya para doon sa length of immunity ng bawat bakuna (There is not yet complete evidence for safety, there is not yet complete evidence for the length of immunity of- each vaccine),” said Vergeire.
“Ang rekomendasyon ngayon, tayo ay magfocus muna na mabakunahan ang mas nakakarami dahil ang dami pa din dito sa ating bansa ang hindi pa nababakunahan kahit isang dose pa lang ng bakuna (The current recommendation is for us to focus first on vaccinating the majority of the population. A lot of people have yet to receive at least one dose of vaccine),” she added.