The Department of Health (DOH) has approved the recommendation to administer Covid-19 booster shots for adolescents aged 12 to 17.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has already signed this recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC).
"Yes, guidelines are being drafted already by DOH," she said on Tuesday, June 21.
Duque also confirmed this and expressed hope that the guidelines will be released soon.
"Hopefully, gets released within the day, which will use HTAC recommendation as basis," he said in a text message.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that the booster guidelines for this age group will be divided in two parts.
"First that will be released today will be additional (or) third dose for (the) immunocompromised, 28 days after (the) second dose," said Cabotaje in a text message.
"Then second part that will be released Thursday is for (the) rest of (the) 12 to 17 population as booster dose, five months after (the) second dose," she added.
As of June 9, DOH data shows that 9.4 million minors aged 12 to 17 were already fully-vaccinated or have completed their two-dose primary vaccination series.
Vergeire recently reported that the Food and Drug Administration has amended the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine so that it can be used as a booster shot for this age group.
To recall, the previous policy only allowed individuals 18-years-old and above to receive booster shots.