The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of Janssen Covid-19 vaccine as booster shots among fully vaccinated adults, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
"Fully vaccinated adults may now get Janssen vaccine as a booster dose after the Philippine Food and Drug Administration approved its emergency use authorization," the DOH said in an advisory on Friday, April 22.
The said vaccine, made by US company Johnson & Johnson, can be used as a heterologous shot. It means, Janssen can be used as a booster shot for those who received AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, Gamaleya Sputnik Light, and Sinovac as their primary vaccination series. The Janssen vaccine as booster shot for those who received Sputnik V is not for implementation.
It can also be used as a homologous shot or for those who received the Janssen vaccine as their primary vaccination series.
To note, booster shots can be given to fully vaccinated adults at least three-months after the second dose of the two-dose primary vaccine series or at least two-months for those who received a single-shot vaccine.
The two-dose vaccines are AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, and Sinovac. Meanwhile, the single-shot vaccines approved in the country are Sputnik Light and Janssen.
"The Department of Health is continuously encouraging everyone to get their booster shots once eligible," it said.
"DOH assures that all vaccines with the Philippine FDA emergency use authorization are proven safe and effective," it added.