CEBU CITY, Cebu, May 21 (PIA) -- With the recent detection of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) has urged the senior citizens and frontline health workers to get their second COVID-19 booster shot as soon as possible to strengthen their immunity against all variants of COVID-19. 

During the 11th Regional Task Force 7 (RTF-7) Coordination Meeting on May 19, DOH-7 Chief Pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche encouraged the frontline health workers and senior citizens, or those who belong to the A1 and A2 priority groups, to immediately get their second COVID-19 booster dose to enhance the protection given by their first booster shot. 

Loreche advised individuals with weakened immune system to get their second booster shot as well, as they are vulnerable to severe disease or death due to COVID-19. 

As part of the guidelines in the administration of the second booster dose, the DOH-7 reminded eligible individuals to make sure that it has been at least four months after their first booster dose before receiving their second dose. 

DOH said that only mRNA vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer were given authorization as the available vaccine brands to be administered for second booster shots.

This is in accordance to the newly-issued DOH Memorandum Order No. 2022-0205 updating the guidelines on the use of additional booster doses, which states that data on additional doses as of May 2022 only exists for the mRNA vaccines.

DOH-7 records show that only 1,470 individuals in Central Visayas have been given the second booster dose, with Cebu City having the highest number of individuals who received the second booster shot at 915.

As of May 18, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas has reached 181,834 with 7,222 deaths, while the active cases in the region stands at 82. (RGC/PIA7)