MANILA TIMES

Senior citizens and immunocompromised patients can now get their third or booster shot in any vaccination site, the Department of Health said on Monday.

The DoH released the guidelines for the administration of booster doses for the A2 and A3 priority groups late Sunday evening.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that those eligible to receive their booster doses can go to the vaccination site nearest them and present their valid ID, their vaccination card, and for those immunocompromised individuals, a doctor's clearance to receive their additional dose.

Those with HIV, cancer or malignancy, transplant recipients, patients under immunosuppressives and those undergoing dialysis can receive boosters.

Vergeire added that regional offices and other vaccination sites have been ordered to prioritize those who will be given their primary series of vaccines, and those who would be given booster doses must be allotted a separate lane.

"Iba po dapat ang lane o kwarto ng babakunahan ng booster kaysa doon sa primary series para wala pong gulo at walang magkakapalit-palit pag nag-umpisa na po ang bakunahan (There should be a different lane or room for those who will be given booster doses so that there won't be any confusion once these vaccinations begin)," she said during her regular media briefing on Monday.

The official added that the administration of boosters to other members of the A3 population that are immunocompetent or do not have immune system issues will begin once the World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts for Immunization issues its recommendations.