There are no guidelines set yet for the expanded coverage of Covid-19 second booster shots according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In an interview on Teleradyo, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they are currently coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fast-track their evaluation and allow second booster shots for other sectors.
This includes those aged 50 to 59 years old and persons with comorbidities since according to Vergeire, there is already evidence for these groups.
DOH recently approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to give those aged 12 to 17 a booster shot following the completion of primary doses.
Second booster shots, meanwhile, remain available only to healthcare workers, the elderly or those above 60 years as well as immunocompromised adults.
On the other hand, the agency looks to administer Covid-19 booster shots to half of the eligible population in President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s first 100 days.
She stated that as part of Marcos' directives to increase the country's booster uptake, DOH seeks to administer at least 23 million COVID-19 booster shots within the first 100 days of his presidency.
Given this target, Vergeire said that the whole country including the implementing agencies should be able to administer Covid-19 booster shots to around 397,000 to 400,000 eligible individuals.