A second dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) shot is important because it provides the maximum effect of the vaccine.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed in an online briefing that the Covid-19 vaccine works “just like any other vaccine” in that it needs a second dose to provide “optimal efficacy”.
“Kasi ‘yung unang dose mo mayroon ka ng certain percentage na makukuha mo ‘yung efficacy ng bakuna but that is already acceptable,” Vergeire said.
“That is an acceptable level pero pag binigyan ka ng second dose, it gives you your optimal, ‘yung maximum effect ng bakuna makukuha mo,” she added.
Vergeire said that people who got the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine can still get infected, however, with less severe symptoms.
“Kapag po tayo ay nabigyan na ng bakuna hindi po ito gate pass para tayo ay magkaroon na ng complacency. Kailangan pa rin po tayong magkaroon ng minimum public health standards,” she said.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to authorize any Covid-19 vaccine for local use.
The FDA has yet to release the emergency use authorization (EUA) applications of vaccine makers Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Gamaleya Research Institute from Russia is also scheduled to send its EUA application along with China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac. Ronald dela Cruz