Annual, bi-annual Covid-19 vaccination possible in PH: expert

Vaccination against Covid-19 yearly or biannually is possible as immunity wanes over time, an infectious disease expert said Monday.

In a televised public briefing, Dr. Rontgene Solante said the priority of the annual or biannual inoculation against Covid-19 would be the vulnerable population.

“Unang-una diyan, bumababa ang bisa ng bakuna six to eight months after, so, ibig sabihin there’s a possibility na pwede tayo magkahawaan pa rin (First of all, vaccine immunity wanes six to eight months after, so, it means there’s still a possibility for us to be infected),” he said.

Solante added he supports the idea of redefining the term “fully vaccinated” which only included the primary series of Covid-19

(PNA photo by Gil Calinga)

vaccine.

The original definition of “fully vaccinated” no longer matches the protection needed against the infection and its severe symptoms, he said.

“Sana karagdagan dito ‘yung first booster sa general population or second booster doon sa vulnerable population with comorbidities and doon sa mga immunocompromised (I hope this includes the first booster for general population or second booster for the vulnerable population with comorbidities and immunocompromised),” he said.

As of Sept. 14, almost 72.8 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. Of the tally, around 6.8 million are senior citizens; more than 9.9 million are adolescents; and 4.9 million are children.

More than 18.7 million have received their first booster doses and almost 2.6 million have received their second booster shots. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor)