The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported that a hospital in the National Capital Region (NCR) mistakenly administered second booster shots to healthcare workers (HCWs) and senior citizens on Monday.
This is despite the guidance from authorities stating that only the immunocompromised are allowed to receive their second booster shots.
In a statement, the DOH said the hospital management "unintentionally misinterpreted guidelines" and included healthcare workers and senior citizens in the rollout of the second booster shots.
Dr. Gloria Balboa, director of DOH-NCR, refused to disclose the hospital involved in the mistake but stressed that it has been corrected as of Monday.
"Nalito lang po sila doon sa guidelines po," she told DZRH in an interview.
(They just got confused by the guidelines.)
"It's an honest mistake. Hindi sinadya, nagkaroon ng confusion, misunderstanding doon sa guidelines," she added.
(It’s an honest mistake. It was unintentional. There was confusion, and misunderstanding over the guidelines.)
According to Balboa, there were no untoward incidents as a result of the mistake, adding that the hospital management will not be sanctioned over it as well.
"So far wala namang untoward incident na nangyari sa lahat po ng nabakunahan," she said.
(So far there have been no untoward incidents among those who received their vaccine shots.)
DOH said that it is coordinating with the National Vaccination Operations Center and other healthcare facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Currently, only immunocompromised individuals are eligible to receive their second booster shots, while the Health Technology Assessment Council is still reviewing evidence for the administration of second booster shots for senior citizens and healthcare workers.
