Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III announced the start of the administration of booster shots to healthcare workers.
“I just want to inform you that we will start giving booster shots tomorrow to health workers,” said the mayor in a live broadcast on Facebook Wednesday.
He said these health workers are those employed by the municipal government, private clinics and hospitals in Pateros.
“Fully vaccinated healthcare workers are now eligible for booster shots starting today, November 17!” the Department of Health announced Wednesday.
“Healthcare workers, who have completed their primary series or six months after getting the second dose, can be inoculated with the following brands regardless of which vaccines taken in the first two doses,” it added.
For Sinovac as primary vaccine, the booster vaccine is Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna.
For AstraZeneca, it can be AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna, and for Pfizer, it is Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna.
For Moderna, it is Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer, and for Sputnik V, the recommended is AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna.
For those who got the one-shot Janssen vaccine, with a recommended interval of three months, the booster shot is AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna.
Ponce said the booster shot that will be given depends on what vaccine is available. He said on Nov. 18, the healthcare workers that will be given booster shots are those who work for the municipal government including at vaccination sites, health centers, swabbing and isolation facilities.
On Nov. 19, the booster shots will be opened to workers in private clinics and hospitals but they need to wait for a text message from the municipal government about their schedule.
He said healthcare workers need to show their vaccination card when getting booster shots for identification of the dates for the primary vaccination, the brand used and the vaccination site.
The mayor said the DOH has not issued guidelines for the administration of booster shots for other priority groups.