DOH: “Habang ang [vaccine] hesitancy ay bumaba, walang urgency yung pagpapabooster kasi karamihan.”
DOH — The Department of Health is not considering at this time to require booster shots, particularly for people living in areas under the Alert Level 1 status.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during a public briefing on Saturday that the DOH will focus on providing information and encouraging those who are eligible to get the booster for now.
According to Cabotaje, there’s no urgency when it comes to taking the booster shot while the vaccine hesitancy in the country has dropped.
“Naiintindihan natin kung saan ang perspektibo ng ating Presidential Assistant Joey Concepcion—gusto niya full protection. Pero sa ngayon ang ating gagawin ay magbigay tayo ng information at pakikiusapan sa mga booster,” Cabotaje said.
READ ALSO: DOH Issues Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination of Children Ages 5-11
Cabotaje made the statement after Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion proposed that areas under the lowest alert status should mandate people to present their booster vax cards upon entering establishments.
Concepcion said in a public briefing last March 4 that his proposal will encourage more Filipinos to get their booster shots.
Cabotaje said that they need to ramp up the COVID booster vaccination.
Based on the government’s National Vaccination Dashboard, a total of 63,681,927 Filipinos are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease, but only 10,476,652 individuals have received their booster shots as of March 5.
Cabotaje also said that their health promotions bureau, together with the other government agencies and other partners from the private sector, will intensify the communication advocacy in order to increase the uptick of booster.
“Ang kampanya sa buwan ng Marso is to bring the information and the vaccines to the homes and workplaces,” Cabotaje said.
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