Given the calls to further protect the healthcare workers and senior citizens from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by giving them booster shots, the Food and Drug Administration reiterated that the vaccination of those who still have not received a single dose stands as the top priority.
In a webinar organized by the University of the Philippines on Friday, Nov. 5, called "Stop COVID Deaths", FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo said that the best way to protect is really to vaccinate everyone.
He explained that people should focus first on the vaccination of those who have not yet been inoculated at this time and stop this virus from circulating and that way, he added that everyone will be protected.
"We do recognize that there's going to be a need to protect our frontliners and the most highly vulnerable pero yun nga talaga pong it will have to be based on real strong scientific evidence," Domingo said.
For now, he mentioned that they have to see if there is really an added benefit and that they will do it as quickly as they can and once a decision has been made, they will be sharing the information with everybody so that everybody will be guided.
In his presentation, he also stated that the Department of Health's (DOH) expert group is reminding everybody of the equity concerns of COVID-19 vaccination given that 65 percent of FIlipinos remain unvaccinated.
"So mas importante mas priority na mabakunahan muna yung unvaccinated bago tayo magbigay ng added doses sa mga tao na vaccinated. Kasi di naman tayo magkakaroon ng herd immunity kung ang mga one-third (1/3) of the population ay given ng vaccines tapos may booster pa pero may 65 percent na unvaccinated (It's more important to prioritize the inoculation of those unvaccinated before we give doses to those who were vaccinated. Because we will not achieve herd immunity if 1/3 of the population is given vaccines and boosters but 65 percent remain unvaccinated)," he explained.
Domingo added that there is a real need to achieve first a very high vaccination coverage in the general population, especially those who have not received a single dose.
According to the FDA, four vaccine developers have already submitted their application for the approval of their COVID-19 vaccine booster shot or third dose for emergency use.
Domingo said that the DOH is already preparing the necessary guidelines for the administration of booster doses and third shots. He mentioned in the webinar that they will be providing guidelines should the time come.
Meanwhile, Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in his recent report to the President that they are looking to have the first rollout of booster doses for health workers and frontliners by Nov. 15 as the first phase.
For the second phase, a third dose will be given to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals which is also projected to start on Nov. 15.