The Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday that senior citizens and select immunocompromised individuals can get their booster shots or third dose of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine beginning on Monday, Nov. 22.
“The vaccination to Priority Groups A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (immunocompromised individuals) shall be rolled out in a phased approach. (Under) phase I, the vaccination rollout shall include the following and shall commence on Nov. 22, 2021,” the DOH said in an advisory.
The immunocompromised individuals who are eligible to receive the additional dose of vaccine include those with: immunodeficiency state, HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant patients, and patients under immunosuppressives.
“The priority groups A2 and A3 shall be given the option to choose whether he/she shall receive a homologous or a heterologous booster dose, depending on the availability of vaccine brands in the vaccination site,” the DOH said.
“The priority groups A2 and A3 shall receive a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine of either a homologous or a heterologous booster or additional dose depending on the eligibility, at least six months after completion of the primary dose series of the following vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, Gamaleya, and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines; and at least three months after completion of the primary dose series of Ad26.COV2.s (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine,” it added.
Previously, the DOH defined homologous dose as the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine from the same brand that was used to complete the primary vaccine series. The heterologous dose uses a vaccine from a different brand.
Meanwhile, Sputnik V and Janssen are not yet available for homologous shots.
These are the recommended heterologous booster or additional dose combination for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals:
- Individuals given Sinovac: may be given AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna.
- Individuals given AstraZeneca: may be given Pfizer or Moderna.
- Individuals given Pfizer: may be given AstraZeneca or Moderna.
- Individuals given Moderna: may be given AstraZeneca or Pfizer.
- Individuals given Gamaleya’s Sputnik V: may be given AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna.
- Individuals given Janssen: may be given AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna.
The following volumes shall be administered:
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: 0.3 ml/dose
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: 0.25 ml/dose (half of the regular dose)
- Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine: 0.5 ml/dose
- AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: 0.5 ml/dose
Last Nov. 17, the government has already started its booster vaccination program for healthcare workers.