The WHO’s call for a moratorium on COVID-19 booster shots was “commendable”, according to DOST.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had welcomed World Health Organization’s (WHO) call for a moratorium on COVID-19 booster shots to address the disparity in vaccine distribution between rich and poor countries.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña described the call made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as “commendable”.
In a Viber message, he told the Manila Bulletin that the intention of the WHO was commendable, but he thought that it will still be up to governments to make the decision for their respective constituents.
Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, the Undersecretary for Research and Development at DOST, cited WHO’s call to countries and firms having a grip on COVID-19 vaccine supply to prioritize poor nations.
Guevara, who also led the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (TG-VES), WHO’s call for a moratorium on COVID-19 booster shots was a welcome development as it will allow more people around the world to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
READ ALSO: WHO Calls For Moratorium On COVID-19 Booster Shots Until “At Least End Of September”
DOST’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) head Dr. Nina Gloriani also bared that it will likely come up with “some recommendations” this week on the use of COVID-19 booster shots for those fully vaccinated individuals — particularly the immunocompromised and healthcare workers.
Gloriani had noted that should the national government allow the use of COVID-19 booster shots for those vaccinated with China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, the initial list of priority recipients may include the healthcare workers, the elderly, and those with comorbidity.
Meanwhile, CNN Philippines reported that France, Germany, UK, and Israel will continue their COVID-19 booster plans despite WHO’s call for moratorium.
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