The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, November 15, said that fully vaccinated health workers may now get booster shots against COVID-19 beginning Wednesday, November 17.

In a statement on Monday night, the DOH said that it was recommending using vaccines made by either Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac, regardless of the brand used for the primary series or the first two doses received.

The DOH said that the guidelines will be released on Tuesday, November 16.

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TRACKER: The Philippines’ plans for COVID-19 boosters, third doses

The Health Technology Assessment Council or HTAC recommended that two groups be made eligible to receive a booster before the end of 2021: health workers and senior citizens vaccinated at least six months ago.

The remaining priority groups A3-A5 may be able to access boosters later in 2022.

Health workers are the first group to be cleared for booster doses because they were the first group to become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines when the Philippines started its immunization campaign in March 2021 or seven months ago. 

As of November 14, around 34.61% of the country’s population have received the first of two doses of the vaccine. Meanwhile, those who have taken both jabs as well as single-dose vaccines represent around 28.65% of the population. – Rappler.com