The Department of Health (DOH) assured that the current stock of monovalent Covid-19 vaccines will still be used even once the bivalent vaccines arrive in the country.
“Let me reiterate, ang (the) monovalent vaccine, ito yung mga nasa stocks natin ngayon, hindi po natin titigilan ang pagpapatupad nito kung tayo ay bibili ng bivalent vaccine (these are the ones we have in stocks right now, we will not stop its implementation if we buy the bivalent vaccine),” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
“Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang pagtuturok ng (We will continue using the) monovalent vaccine but at the same time we are buying the bivalent vaccine because we have to have that chance also na magamit natin ito, especially doon sa nangangailangan nating vulnerable sector (that we can use it, especially for our the vulnerable sector),” she added.
Vergeire also reiterated the importance of procuring bivalent vaccines.
“Kaya tayo bibili kasi (The reason why we will purchase ), it was found based on evidence that the bivalent vaccine can address both the original strain of the virus and subvariants of Omicron,” said Vergeire.
“Kaya natin gusto bumili kasi may ebidensya (The reason why we want to purchase this is because there is evidence) that it can add better protection, especially to our vulnerable sector katulad ng nakakatanda at saka may comorbidities,” she added.
Previously, Vergeire said that the DOH is already negotiating with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for the possible procurement of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines.
The government is expected to purchase this new generation of Covid-19 vaccines early next year, said Vergeire.