Frontline health workers can choose vaccine brand for booster shots

Frontline healthcare workers in the Philippines can now select their preferred COVID-19 vaccine brand for their booster shots, whether it matches their primary series or is a different brand.

This option is available for individuals in Priority Group A1, encompassing essential workers in frontline health services.

Booster doses can be either homologous (same brand) or heterologous (different brand), contingent on vaccine availability.

The Department of Health (DOH) has provided recommended heterologous brand combinations for those receiving Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Gamaleya, or AstraZeneca as their primary series.

For example, individuals who received Sinovac may be given AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna as a booster.

Those vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine for their primary series can also receive AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna as a booster.

Filipinos who received Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Gamaleya, or AstraZeneca for their primary doses must wait at least six months before getting a booster.

Recipients of the Janssen vaccine need only wait three months for their booster shot.