Booster dose rollout starts for immunocompromised teens

THE Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, that immunocompromised adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old can already get their booster shots 28 days after their second dose of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said these individuals are those undergoing cancer treatment, had an organ or stem cell transplant in the past two years, those with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency and advanced or untreated HIV infection, undergoing active treatment for high dose corticosteroid or other drug, dialysis patients, those living with autoimmune disease and treatment with specific immune suppressive medications, individuals diagnosed and considered to be immunocompromised such as those experiencing malnutrition.

She said the administration of booster doses for the said population will be conducted in selected hospitals.

Vergeire said there were more than 238,000 immunocompromised youths within the said age group who were already fully vaccinated. They were among the over 9.4 million teens who were already fully vaccinated.

For the non-immunocompromised teens, she said the roll out of booster doses will be launched after a few days.

Vergeire said booster doses for non-immunocompromised adolescents may be given five months after they received their second dose.

She said the administration of booster doses to immunocompromised individuals of the said age group went ahead as an organizational strategy to ensure that the rollout will be done in an orderly manner.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the administration of Pfizer vaccines as booster doses for the said population on June 14. It was later approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council on June 16.

“So please get the jab done para balik eskwela na tayo na talagang maigi sa kanilang physical at mental health,” said Vergeire.

The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier allowed the conduct of face-to-face classes in areas under Alert Level 1.

Vergerie said booster doses will strengthen the child’s protection against Covid-19, especially as they are expected to go back to school.

"They have been in lockdown for more than two years already. This is the time for us to let them go back to school, have their interactions with other people, classmates, and their teachers," she said.

“Para di rin po matigil ang kanilang pagaaral, sila po ang inaasahan ng ating bayan,” she added. (SunStar Philippines)