The country's Vaccine Experts Panel is expected to recommend to shorten the interval between the second COVID-19 vaccine dose and booster shot, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
"I already spoke to the head of the vaccine expert panel, Dr. Nina Gloriani. Yesterday, she told me they will officially recommend a three-month interval between the second dose and the booster dose," said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday, Dec. 16.
"What used to be six months pwedeng (it can be) three to four months interval between the second and booster dose,” he added.
Duque said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will also need to make an “amendment” in the emergency use authorization of the vaccines “to clearly specify this adjustment.”
The Health chief said he is hopeful that this adjustment in the booster dose interval will be implemented “within the week.”
Currently, all individuals aged 18 years old and above are allowed to receive a booster shot six months after their second dose of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Sputnik V vaccine.
Meanwhile, those who received Janssen and Sputnik Light as their primary dose are allowed to get their booster shot three months after.