MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said that the first batch of the donated bivalent vaccines is set to arrive in three to four weeks, after the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) has already been granted by the Food and Drug Administration.
Bivalent vaccine is a type of vaccine that targets specific variants of COVID-19, like the more transmissible Omicron.
“Noong lumabas na po ‘yung EUA na ito, nagtuloy tuloy na po ‘yung negotiation natin with COVAX facility and they have committed that in about 3 to 4 weeks ay darating na mga bakuna natin,” said DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.
(When this EUA was granted, our negotiations continued with the COVAX facility, and they have committed that in about 3 to 4 weeks, the vaccines will arrive.)
“So hopefully, ito po ay mangyari na dumating na sa ating bansa itong first batch nitong first batch ng COVAX vaccines para makabigbigay na tayo sa priority population natin,” she added.
(So, hopefully, this first batch of COVAX vaccines will arrive in our country so we can give them to the priority population.)
According to Vergeire, a total of 1,002,000 doses of the bivalent vaccines from COVAX are expected to arrive and will be administered initially the priority individuals — healthcare workers, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities.
4-month vaccination interval
Vergeire said that the bivalent vaccines may be administered four months after receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccine dose.
“Halimbawa nakapagpabakuna ka noong October last year ng iyong booster dose (For example, if you had your booster dose last October), you can receive the bivalent vaccines after four months of being inoculated with the most recent vaccination you had,” said Vergeie.
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