The Vaccination Act of 2021 already allows the private sector and local government units (LGUs) to purchase vaccines for booster shots to address the growing clamor for added protection due to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and waning efficacy of vaccines.

This was shared by Senator Nancy Binay and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay virtual forum on Wednesday.

“For the purchase of booster shots, it can already be covered by the Vaccination Act that we passed; it falls within the vaccination program,” Binay answered in Filipino when asked if there’s still a need to pass another law that will allow the private sector and LGUs to purchase vaccines for booster.

Garin agreed, and noted that the government should now be considering various options to give the country flexibility in stopping the COVID spread, especially the breakthrough infections affecting those that were already fully vaccinated as early as March. 

Garin noted that administering booster shots is the direction being taken by the United States and several European and Middle Eastern countries, with the vaccine manufacturers themselves recognizing the waning protection being accorded by their COVID shots.

“There is such a thing as Mature Regulatory Agencies with actual trials already for booster shots. If Pfizer already has full authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this can be used as basis of the Philippine FDA to give access to the LGUs and also the private sector. The Department of Health (DOH) can serve as the consolidator,” Garin explained.

Section 5 of Republic Act (RA) 11525 (Vaccination Act of 2021) states that the private sector may purchase vaccines in cooperation with the DOH and the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19. Vaccines bought by private entities, under the law, shall be for their exclusive use, with the priorities being the healthcare workers, senior citizens, economic frontliners, and essential personnel.

“I would understand the private sector’s need for booster shots. In their workplaces, even if everyone had been vaccinated, if one becomes positive, the infection will spread and the work will stop, so it is killing them, especially the small companies. This is why they need to buy vaccines for booster shots,” Garin said.

Sinovac, she pointed out, has admitted that the immunity it provides wanes after six months, while Pfizer said there is a need for a third shot after the eighth month from the second dose.

“The mere fact that the US is administering third shot is already an admission of the waning effect of the vaccine. Israel has reached 2 million people already (for the booster shots) and they saw drastic reduction in cases,” Garin added. “With Delta surprise, vaccination could be our consideration for the bubble but only if there is third dose.”

She said the government should not be swayed by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidance against the administration of booster shots.

“We are a small country. (The volume of) our third shot for healthcare workers and persons with comorbidity is small. This is survival mode and the responsibility of our government is not to the WHO but to our people,” Garin said. “We should all act with a sense of urgency.”