A public health expert on Wednesday said he believes booster shots against COVID-19 could be yearly, given the duration of its efficacy against the virus.
Tony Leachon, a former special adviser of the national task force against COVID-19, told DZRH that the third or booster shot will be effective for at least nine months.
"After the booster, after the third dose, nine months daw 'yung tatag, minimum na nine months 'yung booster shots natin," Leachon told DZRH in an interview, citing an Israeli research.
(After the booster, after the third dose, it will stay for nine months. The booster shots will last for a minimum of nine months.)
Leachon in particular clarified that he was referring to Pfizer's booster shots, which are reportedly effective for nine months and more.
"Pfizer's booster COVID-19 shot is effective for 9 – 10 months and maybe even longer, according to preliminary data from Israeli research leaked to Channel 12 news on Sunday," he said on Twitter.
According to the expert, this will make the COVID-19 booster shots similar to the flu and pneumonia shots, which are still taken to ensure protection.
"So tingin ko magiging yearly siya kasi meron na tayong template sa influenza and pneumonia na kahit ngayon modern times na nagpapabakuna pa rin tayo," he said.
(So I think it will be yearly because we already have a template with influenza and pneumonia vaccines that even today we still get.)
He explained that this is because the virus is "dynamic" and science should need to keep up with it
"Ang virus kasi dynamic, nagbabago ng anyo kaya dapat ang siyensiya kailangang umagapay rito," he said.
(It’s because the virus is dynamic and is changing its forms, that’s why science needs to keep up with it.)
The government has begun rolling out booster shots for healthcare workers, senior citizens and immuno-compromised.
