Expect the rollout of second booster shots for the elderly and the immunocompromised to start in a week or two, the Department of Health said on Tuesday.

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Health Undersecretary Maria Vergerie said the DOH was still waiting for the final recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) as regards the fourth jabs.

Based from our update yesterday, according to the HTAC secretariat, mag-convene sila soonest time possible para po tayo ay magkaroon na ng guidelines or recommendations from them, Vergerie said in a news briefing.

(Based on our update yesterday, according to the HTAC secretariat, they will convene as soon as possible so that we can have guidelines or recommendations from them.)

We cannot confirm that it will start already by tomorrow, April 20. But we can say it will start in one to two weeks time, she added.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for second booster shots for senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health workers.

According to the DOH, the second booster dose will be given at least four months after the administration of the first booster.

Data from the health department revealed that at least 67 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, 1.5 million children immunized, and 9.1 million minors inoculated.

However, more than 36 million have yet to receive booster shots.