The Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has recommended administering a second booster shot for senior citizens and healthcare workers, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.
However, DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that a requirement from the World Health Organization (WHO) is still needed before the said sectors can be included in the second booster shot program.
“Sa HTAC recommendation, mayroon na silang binigay na recommendation last Friday. Dapat i-out na iyong guidelines for second booster ng A1 healthcare workers at saka A2, iyong ating senior citizen. Pero may nilagay kasi sila doon na hindi nila natanggap iyong WHO written requirements (With regards to the HTAC recommendation, it already gave a recommendation last Friday. We should have issued the guidelines for the second booster for A1 healthcare workers as well as A2 priority group or senior citizens, but the HTAC noted it has not received the WHO written requirements),” said Cabotaje during a public briefing on Tuesday, May 17.
“Iyon ang inaasikaso natin. Paglabas na ng WHO written requirement ay puwede na nating ipalabas anytime iyong ating guidelines (That is what we are working on. Once the WHO written requirements are released, we can issue our guidelines anytime),” she added.
Currently, only the immunocompromised individuals are allowed to get a second booster shot. At present, Cabotaje said 30,912 immunocompromised individuals received their second booster dose.