Health care workers to get booster shots starting Nov. 17

MANILA – Fully-vaccinated health care workers may get their third dose or booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine starting November 17, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

In a public advisory released Monday night, the DOH recommended Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses regardless of the brand used in the primary series.

The DOH said the National Vaccine Operations Center will issue the booster shot guidelines on November 16.

While the use of a third dose has yet to be approved for the general population pending results of studies, health experts said all the vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from Covid-19.

In the US, its Food and Drug Administration has authorized booster shots for adults at high risk of severe Covid-19 because of underlying medical conditions and for health care workers.