THE Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) already started administering booster shots against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to fully vaccinated senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of EOC-TF, said some senior citizens and persons with comorbidities availed themselves of the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central and SM City on Monday, November 22.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier announced that the booster shots for senior citizens and persons with comorbidities will be on December 9 and 19, but on Sunday evening, November 21, Sorongon said the DOH released its new advisory that they can start the rollout for the third dose starting November 22.

On November 17, the EOC-TF started administering booster shots for the hospital-based healthcare workers.

Sorongon said that based on the latest advisory of the DOH, they can administer the booster shots to the Priority Group A1 to A3 or the healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

For persons with comorbidities, Sorongon clarified that they will prioritize those who have immunodeficiency, people living with human immunodeficiency virus, active cancer or malignancy, transplant patients and patients under immunosuppressive treatments.

"They should have six months interval so they can avail the booster shots," he said, adding that those under Priority A.1 to A.7 will be vaccinated at the Ayala Malls ground floor, while A2 to A3 vacinees may proceed to Metro Lobby Area in Ayala Malls and Cinema Area in SM City.

Under the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health recommended the use of Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses regardless of the brand used for the primary series.

Sinovac will also be offered as a booster for those that had such brand of vaccine as primary series, the FDA added.

Sorongon said the booster doses is conducted in phased approach and is not yet available for the general population.