2.4K health workers given booster shots so far: DOH

MANILA – A total of 2,488 health care workers have so far received their booster shots against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.

In a virtual media forum, DOH spokesperson, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, said the figure was based on data from the National Covid-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) and only includes those vaccinated on Wednesday, the first day of the administration of booster shots in the country.

Vergeire said there was no adverse event recorded aside from minor reactions, such as pain on the vaccination site, fever, and headaches.

“Meron ho tayong konting nagkaroon ng reaksyon (We had some who had reactions), about 2 percent, and these were all mild reactions,” she said.

Vergeire noted that those who experienced these mild reactions from their booster shot were “managed accordingly” and were all sent home feeling well.

She said the DOH All Experts Groups on Covid-19 Vaccines met on Thursday night to discuss the guidelines for the rollout of booster shots for senior citizens and immuno-compromised individuals.

“Gagawin lang po namin yung guidelines and we will be announcing through our NVOC kung kailan po mag-uumpisa ang pagba-bakuna ng booster or third doses (We will finish the guidelines and we will be announcing through our NVOC when we’ll begin with the administration of booster shots or third doses),” Vergeire said.

Based on data gathered on Wednesday, she said, the National Capital Region (NCR) and the entire country, in general, are at low to minimal risk case classification for Covid-19.

“Meron lang po tayong isang binabantayan ngayon na ang Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) na kung saan meron silang moderate risk case classification. Lahat po ng regions natin nagsho-show ng negative two-week growth rate and they are showing a decreasing average daily attack rate (We are just monitoring CAR, which is currently at moderate risk case classification. All regions are showing a negative two-week growth rate and they are showing a decreasing average daily attack rate),” she said.

In the NCR, the number of daily cases is plateauing, based on data gathered from November 12 to 18, she said.

“Ito pong week na ito nag-a-average po ng 348 reported cases per day (This week, we are averaging 348 reported cases per day). So, this is 17 percent lower compared to the previous week,” Vergeire said.