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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH considers funding for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots

DOH considers funding for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots

Published Aug 27, 2021 01:11 pm

Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 disease vaccine. (GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Health (DOH) said that they are currently considering allocating funds for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine booster shots should the country's vaccine experts panel decide to recommend their use by next year.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they are open to administering booster shots once the vaccine experts approve it.

“Equity and safety is what the government is trying to consider now. Hindi po natin sinasara ang pintuan natin. Alam natin na mangyayari at mangyayari ang booster shots na ito (We are not closing our doors. We know that the use of booster shots will happen soon),” said Vergeire in an online forum on Friday, Aug. 27.

Vergeire said that the fund for the possible purchase of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses is already included in their proposed budget for 2022.

“Actually, we already have saved money for our booster shots for 2022 kung sakasakali (if ever). Nakalagay na po iyan sa aming prinopose na budget (That is already in our proposed budget),” she said.

“Well hindi pa natin masasabi sa ngayon but there was this initial computation of P45 billion (Well we can't say yet but there was this initial computation of P45 billion),” she added.

Vergeire noted that the use of booster shots should be backed by science before they officially recommend it.

“We always say that the Philippine government decides based on science and evidence. Hindi po tayo basta magkakaroon ng mga impulsive actions or 'di kaya magkaroon ng desisyon (We can't just have impulsive actions or make decisions) which are not really based on science and evidence,” she said.

Vergeire said that studies are still currently being conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of booster doses.

“Kailangan po natin ng further evidence for us to see if it's going to be safe for our citizens. Remember, ito pong mga bakuna sa COVID-19 ay mga bago pong plataporma. Hindi po ito mga decades na--na ginagamit ng mga bakuna (Remember, these COVID-19 vaccines are new platforms. It's not yet being use for decades). This is the first time that we are using these COVID-19 vaccines,” she said.

“Kailangan, kumpletuhin pa rin itong mga trials na ito (It is necessary to still complete these trials) and we can have full confidence in these vaccines. Until we can get sufficient evidence for this kind of practice like booster shots, hindi po tayo makapag rekomenda (we cannot recommend it),” she added.

Related Tags

booster shots Department of Health (DOH) covid-19 vaccine
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