The Muntinlupa City government has started administering booster shots to fully vaccinated and immunocompromised 12 to 17 years old on Friday, June 24.
There are 56,499 minors aged 12 to 17 in Muntinlupa based on DOH estimates. As of June 21, 40,631 in the age group have been fully vaccinated, or 71.91 percent of the total population.
According to the DOH, fully vaccinated children 12 to 17 years old who are immunocompromised will be the first to receive the booster shots.
Immunocompromised children can get their booster shots 28 days after receiving their second dose in the primary series.
The Pfizer vaccine will be the only brand to be used for immunocompromised children which has an emergency use authorization from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Those who will get the booster shot need to bring their vaccination card, medical certificate from a doctor detailing the comorbidities, and valid IDs or documents with photo of the parent or guardian, and the kid.
Hospital and medical center vaccination sites can accept walk-ins or any referral from community health officers, rural health units or any health facility.
The DOH said immunocompromised individuals are the following:
- Those receiving cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Those who got organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Those who got stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicines to suppress the immune system
- Those with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency like DiGeorge syndrome and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
- Those with advance or untreated HIV infection
- Those with active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response
- Those on chronic dialysis
- Those living with autoimmune disease, and treatment with specific immunosuppressive medications
- Those diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromised state as advised by the attending physician like severe malnutrition