Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III on Monday, June 6, agreed with health experts calling to redefine the term “full vaccination” by adding the first booster shot as it is expected to increase the Covid-19 vaccination rate in the country.
Currently, having two shots of Covid-19 vaccines is regarded as a “full vaccination” in the country. Meanwhile, other countries have already redefined “full vaccination” status by including a third vaccine jab or first booster shot.
“Yes, I agree with that, but the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) alam mo naman (as you know), is not just made up of the DOH (Department of Health) , but there are also others—the economic team that frowns upon, does not agree at this,” he answered when asked during an interview with ANC if the redefinition of the term will bring up the vaccination rate.
He said the government’s economic team wants to ramp up boosters, but not as somewhat “mandatory.”
Duque noted that there are so far six countries have already redefined their meaning of “full vaccination” by adding a third shot.
“Bur hopefully we are getting more and more evidence in other countries,” he said.
The health secretary said they will “reintroduce this to the IATF for a consensus.”
Per National Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard, as of Saturday, June 4, 71,008, 003 individuals have completed their primary doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or two shots. Meanwhile, the DOH said only 14,288, 300 individuals had taken their booster dose.