Over the past two weeks, cities in Metro Manila suspended the distribution of the second COVID vaccine dose due to short supply, even as residents were already scheduled to receive it. Given the delays, how long can you wait before the first dose’s protection wears off?
Missing your second dose for a few days is okay as long as it doesn’t exceed six months, said Dr. Nina Gloriani, chairperson of the country’s vaccine expert panel that assures all jabs are safe for use.
Vaccine brands have different dose intervals, with some jabs offering better protection as more time passes. In general, second doses can be administered after three to six months. “Basta hindi sosobra sa six months. Ayaw natin patagalin masyado,” Gloriani said.
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For AstraZeneca, the second dose is given three months after the first. The second Sinovac dose can be administered three to six months after the first jab.
The recommended interval for Sputnik V is 42 days, “pero meron pa silang i-ssubmit na data that will justify 90 days gaya ng AstraZeneca,” she said.
Gloriani also cited administration of Hepatitis B vaccines as an example, wherein the second dose works better after a longer period of waiting time.
Waiting for a few days is acceptable, but Gloriani said it would still be best to get the second dose on the right date or as soon as possible if it was missed.
