IATF approves COVID-19 booster shots for OFWs set for deployment

Overseas Filipino workers who are set for deployment may soon receive COVID-19 booster doses, an official said Saturday.

This, after the government’s pandemic task force approved the proposal to administer booster shots to OFWs set for deployment within four months.

“This is in order to maintain our competitive advantage as well as to protect the much needed livelihood of our OFWs and seafarers for them to secure foreign deployment and contract,” National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla in a Laging Handa briefing.

The government, however, has yet to specify an effectivity date for the inoculation of migrant workers.

“Yes, in order to maintain our competitive advantage and also protect our OFWs and seafarers’ livelihood if boosters are being required for foreign deployment,” Galvez when asked to confirm the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

“We will execute this as soon as necessary since the OFW and seafarers are categorized as A1 in previous IATF Resolution,” he added.