Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he is pushing to provide coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine booster shots for the country’s healthcare workers.

“Personally, I recommend booster shots for our healthcare workers. I’m pushing for it,” said Duque in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday, Oct. 14.

However, based on the recommendation of the country’s vaccine experts, a large number of the population should first receive a vaccine.

“They are all saying that we have to ensure that a bigger percentage of the population must receive the primary series of vaccines. Thirty percent palang yung completed jab rate natin and about 33 or 34 percent ang nakakuha ng first dose (Our completed jab rate is only thirty percent and about 33 or 34 percent got their first dose),” he said.

As of Oct. 13, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said 23 million individuals have already been fully vaccinated in the country. This represents 30.8 percent of the target population for COVID-19 vaccination, he said.

"Marami pa tayong hindi pa nakakatanggap ni isa. So kung magbibigay ka ng booster dose sa healthcare workers—which I support—this will re-channel, parang ma-disenfranchise, mawala yung equity dun sa mga tao din na dapat mabigyan din ng proteksyon katulad ng mga matatanda (Many people have not yet received at least one dose. So if you give a booster dose to healthcare workers—which I support— this will re-channel or disenfranchised, or they may be lose equity on other people who should also be given protection like the elderly). These are the high risk groups,” said Duque.

Duque said that it is important to give vaccines to the elderly population and those with comorbidities.

"Importanteng mabigyan natin ng proteksyon itong mga ito because diyan nanggagaling yung mga severe, critical, saka yung mga naa-ICU, saka mga namamatay (It's important that we give them protection because that's where our severe and critical cases come from. They are also usually being brought in the ICU, and at high-risk of dying)," he said.