The Philippines is expected to receive additional 300,000 bivalent Covid-19 vaccines soon, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has yet to name the country that will donate the said vaccine doses.
“Meron isang bansa (There is a country) which we cannot name for now because the agreement is being finalized, pero magbibigay sila ng additional 300,000 plus na doses (but it has committed to give an additional 300,000 plus doses),” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Vergeire said that the Covax Facility will also donate 1,002,000 doses of bivalent vaccines.
Last Jan. 31, the health official said that the donation of Covax is expected to arrive in March.
Health workers, senior citizens, and individuals with comorbidities will be prioritized for the distribution of bivalent vaccines once these become available in the country, the DOH said last Feb. 2
“With this, we have a concrete of almost 1.4 million doses of bivalent vaccines,” said Vergeire.
Aside from donations, Vergeire said they are continuously coordinating with vaccine makers for the procurement of these vaccines.
Meanwhile, the DOH is in the process of drafting the guidelines for the use of bivalent vaccines.
“Guidelines will be issued soon so that our LGUs (local government units) can prepare already,” said Vergeire.