Cities vow to ramp up Covid jabs

WITH THE increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) vowed to ramp up vaccination in an effort to achieve the target of 50% booster coverage against the deadly respiratory disease.

President Bongbong Marcos previously ordered the Department of Health (DOH) and the local governments to hasten the roll out of booster jabs to protect Filipinos from Covid-19.

“Now on booster shots for the healthy population, Mr. President, we stand by your directive that 50 percent of the general population should receive their first booster dose. Likewise, we stand by your commitment to administer doses to at least 23 million people within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, the Executive Vice-president of LCP, during a recent meeting with Marcos in Malacañang.

Belmonte said the LCP is also grateful to the efforts of the Marcos administration, through the DOH, to respond to the plea of local officials that more population, even healthy ones, should be given a second booster.

The DOH has now allowed people to have a second booster. According to its guidelines, people ages 50 and above, and 18 to 49 years old with comorbidities, shall be allowed to receive the booster shot - either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines - and can only be administered at least four months after the previous dose.

“We are dedicated to helping our people remain protected against Covid-19. We are making it easier for us, many of our people to avail of the primary series and boosters, including second boosters. The Department of Health, along with other government agencies and private sector partners, aim to increase vaccine coverage nationwide,” said Health Undersecretary Dr Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“We need every eligible Filipino to turn this into a whole-of-society fight against the virus. Together with the President (Bongbong Marcos), we stand by the fact that vaccines are safe and effective and remain to be our best defense in this pandemic,” she added.

The DOH previously said the second booster shot is initially available for senior citizens (Priority Group A2) and frontline health workers (Priority Group A1). It said the second booster shot is primarily MRNA vaccines such as those manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer which will strengthen immunity against the virus, including the latest Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

It said the following are under Priority Group A1: Workers in essential health services and all people 60 years old and above; Priority Group A2: Senior Citizens. The vaccines are to be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster dose. (Mindanao Examiner)