Seniors, persons with comorbidity can get booster shots starting Nov 22

Following the rollout of additional shots for healthcare workers, DOH said that those under category A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidity) are now allowed to get their booster doses, regardless of the brand of their initial vaccine. 

In a statement, the health department said those included in immunocompromised state are individuals with immunodeficiency state, people living with HIV, active cancer of malignancy, transplant patients, and patients under immunosuppressive treatments. 

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— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) November 21, 2021

Similar to healthcare workers, persons under category A2 and A3 can receive homologous booster dose which involves the same brand of vaccine as the initial shot; or heterologous booster dose which involves a different brand of vaccine. 

DOH recommend the following combination of vaccine brands for heterologous booster vaccination:

Sinovac - AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna
AstraZeneca - Pfizer or Moderna
Gamaleya (Sputnik V) - AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna
Janssen - AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna
Pfizer - AstraZeneca or Moderna
Moderna - AstraZeneca or Pfizer

Homologous vaccinations for Gamaleya Sutnik V vaccine and single-dose Janssen vaccines are not yet for implementation. 

DOH also noted that homologous vaccination for AstraZeneca is allowed but with precaution based on the emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. 

“DOH and NVOC (National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center) reiterate that the administration of booster doses is conducted in a phased approach and is not yet available for the general population,” the agency added.