The government on Monday officially rolled out the first phase of additional and booster shots administration to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.

The provision of additional doses will benefit about 8.2 million elderly (A2) and 8.4 million adults with comorbidities (A3).

In a media briefing, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said the second phase of the booster vaccination will include the entire A3 category.

For now, only those in an immunodeficiency state, with human immunodeficiency virus or active cancer or malignancy, transplant patients, and those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments are included.

“Kung ang ating nababakunahan ay one million a day, more or less, in about eight days, mababakunahan natin mga eight million na mga senior citizen at ganun din kung isasama mo naman ang A3, that’s about another eight million so mga 16 working days (If we can vaccinate one million a day, more or less we can inoculate 8.4 million senior citizens in about eight days and it will be the same if you will include the A3. That’s another eight million so we can do it in 16 working days),” Duque said during the ceremonial booster vaccination at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

The target timeline for boosters may still change, Duque said, as the government is simultaneously rolling out primary doses to the general population, pediatric vaccination for ages 12 to 17, and booster shots for health care workers (A1).

“Theoretically, in eight days matatapos, but gusto ko lang linawin na hindi lang sila ang binabakunahan natin (Theoretically, it could be done in eight days, but I would like to clarify that they are not the only ones being vaccinated),” he said.

Duque said eligible individuals may choose between heterologous (mixed) or homologous (same brand) booster vaccines.

DOH Director Gloria Balboa said authorities recommended pre-registration for a smoother vaccination process.

“Gagamitin pa rin po natin yung dati nating proseso. We are still encouraging na dapat may pre-registration kasi para maging mas maayos at mas mabilis (We will use the previous process. We are still encouraging pre-registration for a more organized and faster vaccination process),” she said.

She said the booster dose should be administered six months after receiving the second dose, except for the single-dose Janssen jab which requires an additional dose after three months.

“So ‘pag nag-pre-register, nava-validate po iyon kung talagang eligible na ho sila (So if they are registered, it can be validated whether they are really eligible for boosters),” she added.

Last week, the government started the administration of booster shots for at least 1.6 million health care workers and targets to inoculate all eligible medical front-liners by the end of November.

Local government units have not yet released guidelines for the administration of additional shots of the A2 and A3 categories but the DOH said the vaccinees can go to any inoculation site anytime and present their vaccination cards or certificates. (PNA)