CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) -- Following reports of people who missed their scheduled second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is still okay to receive the vaccine of up to six months after their first jab.

“Our vaccine experts are saying that in the existing list of vaccines that we have, three to six months is still acceptable to give the second dose without repeating the series,” DOH USec. Rosario Vergeire said in DOH Media Forum on Monday, July 5.

There were cases where people missed their vaccination schedule due to various reasons, such as getting exposed or infected with COVID-19 and other personal circumstances on the scheduled date, Usec. Vergeire added.

The DOH spokesperson cited that the Philippine vaccine expert panel presented reports stating the indicative interval to which the delayed second dose can be administered.

“For Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, it can be given for as long as 42 days while for Sputnik V, it can be given up to 90 days,” Vergeire said.

She added that there is no specific number of days for Sinovac, but it needs to be given to the person as soon as possible.

The health department reminded the public to get their second vaccine dose within the acceptable interval of doses or as soon as they are available to take it. (PIA-NCR)