DOH to buy ‘minimal number’ of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines

The Department of Health (DOH) said it will initially purchase a “minimal number” of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines.

In a press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they will just increase the number of stocks of these vaccines based on the demand.

“At the outset, we are just going to procure minimal number of doses,” said Vergeire on Thursday, Dec. 29.

“Meron naman tayong usapan with the manufacturers na kung saka-sakaling nakita natin na tumaas pa ang demand, maaari tayong umorder agad-agad sa kanila at mai-deliver nila agad-agad (We have a discussion with the manufacturers that if we see that the demand increases, we can order from them right away and they will deliver immediately),” she added.

As to the specific quantity, Vergeire said “we’re ordering by the millions.”

At present, Vergeire said the DOH is already drafting the guidelines for the use of bivalent vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna.

This after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for this type of Covid-19 vaccine made by the said vaccine manufacturers.

“We are trying to procure from both manufacturers but it depends on the stage of the process. Sabi nga natin for Pfizer, nakapag-sign na tayo ng confidentiality disclosure agreement. Doon pa lang mag-uumpisa ang pag-uusap pagkatapos nun (As we said for Pfizer, we have signed a confidentiality disclosure agreement. The discussion will begin then),” said Vergeire.

“With Moderna, mas advance na ang negosasyon natin sa kanila (our negotiations with them are more advanced). So we will try to procure from both,” she added.

Previously, Vergeire said they will start the procurement of bivalent vaccines early 2023.