Those fully vaccinated individuals who had breakthrough coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection may receive booster shots, a vaccine expert from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Thursday, Nov. 25.

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE)

DOST Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) head Dr. Nina Gloriani said those who completed the two-dose regimen and had COVID, especially those who experienced mild symptoms may get boosters.

“Kung nagka-COVID sya ng mild , generally, ang mild COVID infection will not generate a very good immune response compared dun sa naka severe at nag recover so ang aming sinsabi dyan puwede sila magpa-booster para maitaas yun kung mild, pero kung naging severe mataas yan (If he has a mild COVID, generally, a mild COVID infection will not generate a very good immune response compared to a severe one and recovered, so what we are saying they can receive boosters to increase their immune response but if you had severe COVID, the immune response is high),” she said during the TechnoForum on COVID-19 Vaccines and Herd Immunity on Thursday as part of the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc’s (LBSCFI) celebration of the SyenSaya 2021.

A breakthrough infection sets in at least 14 days after completion of COVID-19 vaccine doses

“Yung nabakunahan may immunity na yun lalo na kung nakadalawa, ngayon nagka-breakthrough infection sya, yun ang tinatawag na breakthrough, hindi sufficient ang naging protection. That’s what we are saying sa severe lang talaga ang mataas ang protection (Those who have been vaccinated have that immunity, especially if they completed two-dose regimen, now they had a breakthrough infection, that is what is called a breakthrough, the protection was not sufficient. That’s what we are saying that the vaccines can protect you against the severe form),” Gloriani said.

She urged the public to take advantage of the government’s vaccination program to protect themselves and their loved ones.

In October this year, Gloriani said there could be underreported cases of COVID-19 breakthrough infections.

She said the data on COVID-19 infections among fully vaccinated individuals may be lacking as some individuals failed to report to the health authorities.

READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/14/cases-of-covid-breakthrough-infections-could-be-underreported-says-vep-chief/

The LBSCFI SyenSaya Technoforum 2021 was conducted by DOST-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon). It sought to raise awareness on the problem of vaccine hesitancy, highlight the importance of herd immunity, and further provide an avenue for a more transparent conversation regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

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