The vaccine expert panel (VEP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is seeking the use of a booster shot to those fully vaccinated with Sinovac’s vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Asked on what vaccine does the VEP recommends to be used for the booster shot, VEP member Dr. Rontgene Solante said in a public briefing Saturday, Sept. 11, that a third dose of the Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine has potential in increasing the protection it provides.

“Sa ngayon ang nakita natin, yung pangatlong dose ng Sinovac, medyo maganda naman na makapag-pataas ulit sa proteksyon based doon sa mga pag-aaral (What we've seen so far, a third dose of Sinovac showed good results in increasing the protection based on studies),” Solante said.

“Isa yan sa mga priority na kung mga fully vaccinated with Sinovac, sila din yung pwedeng makatanggap ng pangatlong dose ng Sinovac (That is one of the priorities that if they are fully vaccinated with Sinovac, they will also be able to receive the third dose of Sinovac),” he added.

The largest portion of the country’s COVID-19 vaccines supply consists of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, with 31 million doses delivered as of date.

Solante said the VEP has already submitted their recommendation regarding the use of booster shot to the All Experts’ Group for COVID-19 Vaccines of the Department of Health (DOH).

But he noted that the DOH will be the one to give the final decision whether there is a need for a booster shot, considering the status of the country’s vaccine supply.

In a recent television interview, Solante had said that the VEP has recommended administering booster shots to frontline healthcare workers six to eight months after full vaccination.

Protection wanes after 6-8 months

According to Solante, data have shown that the protection provided by the Sinovac’s vaccine decreases six to eight months after full vaccination.

“May mga data kasi na nagsasabi na yung nabigyan ng bakuna, especially Sinovac, yung neutralizing antibody o yung protection, bumaba talaga siya after six to eight months (There are data that say that those vaccinated, especially with Sinovac, the neutralizing antibody or the protection, really went down after 6 to 8 months),” Solante said.

“At nakikita din natin ito on the ground. May mga ngilan-ngilan na talagang mga healthcare workers na nagkakasakit. Kadalansan naman mild lang (And we also see this on the ground. There are very few healthcare workers who actually get sick. But it is usually mild),” he added.