The Department of Health (DOH) will soon issue guidelines on the administration of third dose or booster vaccines, an official of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said on Tuesday.

In an interview, NTF special medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said the DOH has committed to release the guidelines before November 15, upon the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

“Hopefully, magkaroon tayo ng linaw kung sino ang bibigyan ng third dose (we can can clarify to whom the third dose will be given),” he added during the arrival of 2.7 million doses of Russian jabs Sputnik V at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

The DOH earlier approved the provision of booster shots to fully vaccinated health care workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and immunocompromised adults (A3).

Previously, NTF chief and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will likely use a “homologous” vaccination scheme in the administration of booster shots, following the recommendation of the interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and the All Experts Group panel.

Under the scheme, the booster shot will be of the same brand as the previous doses.

Majority of the primary vaccines administered are Sinovac and AstraZeneca. (PNA)