Different brand for 2nd booster shot ‘more effective’ – DOH

A different vaccine brand as a second booster shot can be “more effective” in warding off the COVID-19 virus, according to the Department of Health (DOH). 

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, head of the National Vaccination Operations Center, supported the recommendation of government’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) to use a different vaccine brand as second booster shot. 

Cabotaje said, “A different brand will be more effective because it tries to give additional protection outside of the regular or the homologous primary booster.” 

“They are thinking that it will have a better effect, it’s a complementary effect to the original vaccine doses that have been given,” she added. 

Cabotaje said using a different vaccine brand is only a recommendation for now. “There are preferences and based on studies, the recent clinical trials are showing that there may be more advantages. However, these are recommendations,” Cabotaje said. 

“They are finalizing guidelines to get consensus on—number one, that heterologous booster, age group, and the final conclusion of what’s included as immunocompromised,” she added. 

Dr. Nina Gloriani, chair of the VEP, said the rollout of the second booster for eligible groups would be available and ready for approval by Health Secretary Francisco Duque.