DOST-funded COVID-19 vaccine mix-and-match study underwayBikers and riders line up for a COVID-19 booster shot drive-thru at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Lawton, Manila on Jan. 8, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The government-funded study to mix and match COVID-19 vaccines is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said over the weekend. The study targets to enrol 3,000 participants aged 18 and above in eight sites in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Group B will study the vaccines to be interchanged, and Group C will study the special high-risk group to be given a booster dose. Aside from determining the safety and immunogenicity of interchanging vaccine brands to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series, the study also aims to determine if the high-risk population who already completed the dosing regimen of the Sinovac vaccine would elicit a better immune response after the administration of a booster dose from a different vaccine platform or brand.

Source: Philippine Star January 09, 2022 16:58 UTC