IN A bid to strengthen the country’s protection against the resurgence of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the National Government has been repeatedly urging eligible individuals to get inoculated against the virus that killed hundreds of people across the world.According to the Department of Health (DOH), as of August 28, 2022, 92.8 percent of the total target population or 72,476,610 individuals have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the country.Fully vaccinated individuals are those who have completed their single or two-dose primary shots of Covid-19 vaccines.Individuals 18 and above and children as young as five are eligible for Covid-19 vaccination in the country.However, as more Covid-19 variants emerged, which drove the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the country, health experts were reiterating the importance of Covid-19 booster doses.Booster shots are seen to increase the wall of immunity as the efficacy of the primary series wanes after a few months.Out of the over 72 million individuals who have completed their primary series, only 17,843,348 or 24.62 percent received booster dose, either first or second.Individuals 18 years and above are all eligible for the first booster dose three months after they finished their primary series.The DOH recently updated the eligibility, making all 50 years old and above, regardless of whether they have co-morbidities or none, and 18 to 49 years old with comorbidities qualified to receive the second booster dose or fourth dose.Pfizer and Moderna are the only mRNA vaccine brands that could be used as a second booster shot, which must be administered at least four months after the first booster or the third dose was given.They are advised to bring their vaccination card and a valid ID.A medical certificate is not required, even for individuals with comorbidities.The DOH earlier launched Pinas Lakas, a campaign that aims to immunize 23.8 million or at least 50 percent of the eligible population with the Covid-19 booster shot within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.Health officials were visiting several provinces across the country to promote booster dose vaccination.The agency has set up vaccination sites in strategic areas in coordination with the local government units to make Covid-19 inoculation more accessible to the public.This includes malls, transportation hubs, pharmacies, barangay halls, health centers and other facilities like schools.LGUs have also been announcing through social media or their respective barangays the schedules of vaccination, including what dose is being given in the specific vaccination site.In most of the cities in the National Capital Region, LGUs have been posting the vaccination schedule on their Facebook account.Provinces like Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite have also been issuing vaccination schedules through social media.The DOH has so far detected over 2,000 cases of Omicron sub-variants such as BA.5, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4 in the country.At present, there are 27,497 active Covid-19 cases in the Philippines. (SunStar Philippines)