by Dorothy Jane Manzano | Ikirara
The vaccination program in the Philippines officially started on March 1, 2021 using the first batch of Sinovac vaccine. In the light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the detection of the Delta variant in the country, more Filipinos are more than eager to have themselves vaccinated, as many are still in need to go outside of their homes for their livelihood and personal matters. After almost two years since the first jab was administered, questions started to float regarding the efficacy of the administered vaccines, especially to healthcare workers, who are directly exposed to the virus. Now that the health department has approved booster shots for healthcare workers, issues regarding the supply, demand, and distribution of vaccines should also be addressed.
Booster shots are administered to increase and maintain the immunity of the body against a certain disease as the efficacy of the initial doses can decrease over time. This is done by reintroducing the body to the immunizing agent, because disease-causing agents like viruses can mutate and have different variants over time. The additional protection from these boosters shots enables the body to be protected against more infective agents and severe clinical manifestations of the disease.
In terms of booster shots against COVID 19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided data on the need of booster shots as the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine may decrease its effectiveness throughout time and is unable to properly protect the body against the Delta variant. The initial vaccine doses become less effective in fully preventing mild to severe symptoms of COVID-19. Results from clinical trials have shown that individuals that received booster shots have an increased immune response, thus they are equipped with additional protection from the virus and its variants.
The CDC have recommended the booster shots for those who have received the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine who are: 65 years old and older or 18 years old and older that are immunocompromised or with underlying medical conditions, healthcare workers (HCWs), and other individuals whose occupations put them at greater exposure and risks. Meanwhile, health experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have mentioned that people who are aged 60 years and above that have received the Sinovac vaccines shall be eligible to a third dose of the vaccine if the supplies and accessibility allows it. In recent findings, results show that there is a decrease in the immune response that can be generated from Sinovac vaccines, six months after the second dose. In the conducted study of Chinese researchers, 16.9% of the participants that have received the two doses two weeks apart, have detectable antibodies, and only 35.2% for the individuals that have received the two doses four weeks apart. Based on the gathered results, there is more to be uncovered to be able to understand the relation of the efficacy of the vaccine dose to the levels of the antibodies in which the number of doses needed by an individual to be immunized is identified.
Recently, the country’s health department stated that HCWs that received their last doses of vaccine six months prior are eligible for booster shots. While this is a welcoming development for HCWs, the issue of low vaccination rates in other priority groups and regions in the country should also be tackled. According to the country’s vaccine bulletin last November 10, among the four priority groups, only the A1 priority group has a vaccination rate of above 94%, while most of A4 and A5 priority groups in the regions have a vaccination rate of lower than 50%. Looking at the data, all 17 regions except the National Capital Region, have only inoculated less than 40% of their target populations, making the national vaccination just shy of 40%.
As the administration pushes for the inoculation of booster shots amidst the current issues, the vaccine supply should also be sufficient for everyone that is yet to receive their 1st and 2nd doses. Moreover, vaccination programs should also be ramped up, especially in the provinces, to prevent again the stockpiling of vaccines that are not yet administered.
Indeed, an effective campaign and information drive for those who still are hesitant to be vaccinated, coupled with the sufficient supply of vaccines and efficient vaccine roll oust, are key in the progress of the country in achieving herd immunity.
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