The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Emergency Use Authorization for the single-shot Janssen vaccine to be used as booster doses for fully vaccinated adults, the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said Friday.
The NTF said Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine can be used as the homologous (same brand) booster shot with at least two months of interval, according to the guidelines.
For those who received Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and the single-shot Gamaleya Sputnik Light as primary doses, the interval should be at least three months.
Those who received Janssen as their primary vaccine series may also acquire AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer jabs as booster shots.
The FDA previously said the Janssen booster shot does not need reformulation.
NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has repeatedly assured all Covid-19 vaccines procured by the government are safe and effective.
To date, there are about 67 million Filipinos with completed primary series of Covid-19 jabs, but only 12.97 million have received their booster shots.
The rollout of the fourth dose or the second booster shot for the immunocompromised aged 18 and above who received their initial booster shot at least three months ago will begin on April 25, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during an online media forum Friday.
The next phase will include medical front-liners and the elderly. (PNA)
