What is a booster shot ?

A BOOSTER shot is is a dose of vaccine given after a person has had the original vaccine (sometimes called a primary dose or, if more than one dose, primary series). Immunity from the original vaccine can fade over time, and a booster shot can help the immune system “boost” the protection it provides. In a country like the Philippines, which was on lockdown for more than two years, it is an imperative that we will need at least a third dose or first booster to augment the effect of the two primary vaccines to address the waning immunity 3-6 months after the last dose.

As of Sept. 19 , according to the DOH, a total of 72.9 million people have had their first two doses of the vaccines. But only 18.9 million individuals have availed their boosters shots and only 2.7 million have been inoculated with the second booster dose.

To improve on our anemic booster program , aside from massive public education , we need to redefine fully vaccination since Omicron, the 13th named variant of the coronavirus, seems to have a remarkable capacity to evolve new tricks and the extraordinary capacity to linger on.

Booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines appear to be highly effective at preventing hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant, according to three new CDC studies published last January 2022.

The extra doses were 90% effective at keeping people out of the hospital after infection and 82% effective at preventing emergency department and urgent care visits.

Health advocates globally and locally, hence, have recommended to redefine full vaccination as three doses : two primary vaccines and one booster shot ( the third dose ).

However in a press statement two weeks ago , President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has advised against redefining “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 as it may only cause “more confusion.” The details of this system were not elucidated.

So the definition remains: A fully-vaccinated individual is someone who already had the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The DOH has repeatedly reminded vaccinated individuals to get booster shots because their immunity against COVID-19 wanes over time especially that an Executive Order has been released to favor the wearing of optional face masks in outdoors and open spaces.

The World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
recently tempered his pronouncement that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic was near, declaring the crisis that the world has “never been in a better position to end the pandemic.The end is in sight.”

But speaking to the press again last September 22 Thursday from the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tedros appeared less upbeat, making it clear that “being able to see the end, doesn’t mean we are at the end.” He reiterated that the world was in the best position it had ever been in to end the pandemic, with the number of weekly deaths continuing to drop – and now just 10 percent of what they were at the peak in January 2021.

WHO DG Tedros pointed out that two-thirds of the world’s population has been vaccinated, including three-quarters of health workers and older people. But, he stressed perhaps enlightened by new data about other countries , “it is still a long way off, and the tunnel is still dark, with many obstacles that could trip us up if we don’t take care. We’re still in the tunnel.”

Since the start of the pandemic, the WHO has tallied more than 609 million cases and some 6.5 million deaths, though the true toll is believed to be substantially higher.

A WHO study published in May based on excess mortality seen in various countries during the pandemic estimated that up to 17 million people may have died from COVID in 2020 and 2021.

And US President Joe Biden went further in an interview broadcast last September 18 Sunday, declaring that the pandemic in the United States “is over”.

If rich nations think the pandemic is over, they should help lower-income countries reach that point too, a senior World Health Organization official told Reuters.

Pres. Joe Biden is falling into the same political trap of his cavalier predecessor, Donald Trump by stating that the pandemic is over in the USA since most people are not wearing face masks . He had a strong point as domestically the United States has good access to all COVID tools. The USA ranks number three globally in deaths and nearly 3,000 people are still dying of #COVID19 every week, 400-500 per day.

Here at home we have an increasing positivity rate nationally at 15 % with NCR at 17.5 % (WHO bench mark < 5 % ) with 35-50 deaths per day.

Now, we are at high risk of having a huge surge this Holiday season due to vaccine waning, indoor mixing, few masks worn, poor ventilation, defenses down and government ‘s relaxed leadership.

Let us not lose hope. Be inspired to follow the light at the end of the long and dark tunnel by seeing the problem differently , challenging the authority , seeking out like minds , thinking strategically of the bigger picture, never stop questioning leaders even in their own backyards , and always considering the moral implications of our actions.

But we need authentic leaders now in our country – honest , competent , inspiring , and forward looking. We need these leaders to perk up the sagging economy. Leadership is the foundation of credibility. People must believe that their leaders know where they’re headed and have a clear vision for the future. Leaders are expected to have a point of view about the future and to articulate exciting possibilities.

We need boosters of inspiration now – for our health , economy , and our leaders. But we need to clarify our personal values. There must be alignment and agreement on the values that everyone will commit to upholding. A common understanding of shared values emerges from a process , not a pronouncement ; unity comes about through dialogue and debate, followed by embracing the decision through collaborative effort.

People will only willingly follow when they are inspired and confident that their leaders, elected or appointed , know where they’re going even through the longest and darkest tunnel in our nation ‘s healthcare history. By Dr. Tony Leachon

Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.
Independent Health Reform Advocate
Past President ,
Philippine College of Physicians
Chair , Kilusang Kontra Covid
( KILKOVID )