The Philippines will offer the second COVID-19 booster to the public, the Department of Health announced Wednesday, allowing more Filipinos to get additional protection against the virus.
“Based on the updated emergency use authorization of the Food and Drug Administration and the positive recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council, we can now use the vaccines we have as second booster for the general population or our health adults,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.
Only vulnerable groups such as healthcare workers and the elderly were allowed to receive the fourth jab last year.
The DOH also warned that the daily COVID-19 cases in the country may reach up to 600 by mid-May if the minimum public health standards will not be complied with.
Based on the latest projections as of April 11, the daily cases may increase to 289 up to 611 nationwide by May 15, according to Vergeire.
Vergeire said these projections were based on factors including the transmission rate, level of vaccination, and compliance with minimum public health standards.
She said at least 30 to 122 daily cases are also seen in the National Capital Region (NCR) by May 15.
“But as we always say, these are projections, these are not cast in stone. At least we are guided by these projections,” Vergeire said at a media forum.
As of March 16, some 78.4 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Of the figure, over 23.8 million have received their first booster dose while almost 4.4 million have gotten the second booster shots.
Vergeire said the intensive care units (ICU) and severe and critical admissions have been on a “plateau” since early February, while the utilization rates have remained at “low risk.”
“As of April 9, 2023, there were 378 of our severe and critical cases which make up 10.22 percent of our total admissions remaining to be less than 20 percent of our total COVID-19 admissions since January of 2022,” she said.
Deaths have also been on a “downward” trend, with only “one case of death due to COVID-19” recorded in March 2023, Vergeire added.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said the total number of unvaccinated cases increased last March 2023 by 13 percent compared to February 2023.
The DOH chief said 11 percent of unvaccinated admissions resulted in deaths.
She said over 78.4 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, while 7.2 million senior citizens are already inoculated, as of March 16, 2023.
Over 10.2 million adolescents are fully vaccinated, while more than 1.2 million are already boosted, and more than 5.6 million children are fully vaccinated, Vergeire said. Willie Casas
More than 23.8 million individuals have received their first booster dose, while almost 4.4 million have received their second booster shots, she added.
“As we are seeing a slight increase in cases among those who are not vaccinated, we continue to remind the public to get their primary doses, as well as the first and second booster doses for those who are eligible so that we remain protected against the virus.
