Booster shots, recommended by the Department of Health (DOH)

Immune response against COVID-19, to decrease after receiving immunizations before 6 months

According to the head of the country's vaccine expert council, the immune response against COVID-19 established by senior individuals and immunocompromised after receiving immunizations may decrease even before six months.

COVID-19 vaccine recipients' immune responses usually fade after six months, according to Dr. Nina Gloriani, but it could be quicker for the elderly and those with comorbidities. She claims that data shows immunity might start to decrease as early as three months. However, some people have managed to keep their immunity even after being fully vaccinated for eight or ten months, Gloriani noted, so it still depends on the person.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, the government began giving booster vaccinations to healthcare employees. Health workers were given the option of choosing their booster vaccine, which might be different from the one they received initially.

The Department of Health (DOH) is actively working on recommendations for administering booster shots or third doses to the elderly and immunocompromised. Dr. Edsel Salvana, an infectious disease expert, indicated that the standards for older citizens will differ from those for health workers, and that they may receive a third dose instead of a booster shot.