MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine government will be allowing individuals with completed Sinovac doses to choose from any of the brands to be approved by regulatory bodies for booster shots, according to the Philippines’ vaccine czar.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Carlito Galvez Jr. said that they are on standby for the amendment from the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers which approves the current emergency use authorization of the vaccines.

The final recommendation on which vaccine brands can be used as a third dose or can be mixed with previous doses will then be given by mid-November once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (WHO-SAGE) approves.

“Uunahin po natin ang health workers and immunocompromised at later na yung other priority sectors,” Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, said.

(We will start first with the health workers and immunocompromised and later, the other priority sectors.)

Galvez further stated that the government will also wait for WHO’s approval on the brands to avoid “discrimination” over other manufacturers.

The boosters will also be given to individuals whose immunity has waned. Meanwhile, the third dose will be for vaccinees who did not have any significant immunological response after the first and second doses.

– Jessa/WhatALife.ph

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