(PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) is proposing anew to the Office of the President the redefinition of the term "fully vaccinated" which currently include the primary series or first two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
In a television interview on Wednesday, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency proposes to include the first booster shot in the definition of "fully vaccinated" as the population's immunity continues to wane with the increase of Omicron subvariant cases.
As of August 8, DOH data show about only 16.6 million Filipinos have received their first booster shot while more than 1.5 million health care workers, senior citizens, and persons who are immunocompromised or have comorbidities have received their second booster dose.
More than 71.9 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated or have completed their primary series of Covid-19 jabs.
READ: Expiry date on vax cards 'good strategy' to push booster shot
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration would administer booster shots to 23 million eligible Filipinos during its first 100 days.
"They [Filipinos] are already confident with their first two doses and that [is] because there are not much severe and critical [cases], so, they say that enough na 'yung two doses nila (their two doses are enough)," Vergeire said.
"So, we are very hopeful that even though cases are increasing, we can still manage and our healthcare system will not be overwhelmed," she added.
About 27,982 new Covid-19 cases have been logged nationally from August 2 to 8.
The country’s daily average number of cases is 3,997 in the recent week.
Moreover, the national weekly positivity rate has increased to 18.6 percent from last week’s 16.7 percent.
Philippine Federation of Professional Associations Vice President Dr. Benito Atienza echoed Vergeire's statement on the importance of booster shots as vaccine immunity wanes over time.
"Malaking bagay ito, kahit na kayo ay magka-Covid ay hindi kayo matatamaan ng moderate to severe, kundi ay iyong mild lang (Boosters are beneficial, you might still get Covid but you won't have moderate to severe [symptoms], only mild [symptoms])," he said in a televised public briefing.
"Actually, ang marami ngayon na nagkakaroon ng Covid, ito na iyong mga nabigyan ng first booster, pero nakikita natin na napakalaking bagay ang nabigyan ng booster dose, kasi parang napaka-mild ng symptoms nila (there are some Covid-19 cases who have received the first booster dose, but they only have very mild symptoms)," he added. (PNA)
