THE City Government of Talisay, Cebu will administer Covid-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated healthcare frontliners on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.
The City aims to inoculate over 1,000 medical workers who got their first and second dose in the city. Doctors, nurses, midwives and other health workers who are employed in Cebu City hospitals but are Talisay residents are expected to get their booster shots in the city.
Talisay City will be the first local government unit in Cebu to administer a third dose to its medical frontline workers, who are under the Priority Group A1.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. said they will have a separate vaccination venue for healthcare frontliners in order to prevent mass gathering in their three vaccination centers.
Healthcare frontliners will be able to avail themselves of Covid-19 booster shots at the Borromeo Brothers Elementary School in Barangay Cansojong from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., Gullas said.
He reminded healthcare frontliners in Talisay City that they can only avail themselves of the booster shots if they have been fully vaccinated for more than six months.
Interested healthcare frontliners are required to bring their valid identification cards and vaccination cards to get the booster shots.
“Opportunity nani nato nga makareceive mo ug extra protection against Covid-19. Importante kaayo ni sa atong mga healthcare workers tungod sila man atong frontliners sa atong ongoing war against Covid,” Gullas said.
(It is an opportunity now to receive an extra protection against Covid-19. This is very important to our healthcare workers because they are our frontliners in our ongoing war against Covid.)
Last Nov. 15, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that booster shots will be given to fully vaccinated healthcare workers beginning Nov. 17.
The DOH cited the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration in making the announcement. It clarified, though, that based on the EUA, only Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac vaccines will be given as booster doses regardless of the brand used for the primary series.
A booster shot is given to people whose immune response may have weakened over time, while a third dose is given to people who may not have had enough immune response from the first two doses.
The DOH warned the public last week against providing unauthorized booster shots or additional doses of Covid-19 vaccines, saying it would be illegal if without the approval from the National Government.
Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said that the booster shots, as announced by the DOH, are only available for healthcare workers. (JKV, BBT / SunStar Philippines)