BATANGAS CITY – The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) has started inoculating individuals belonging to the A1 and A2 populations with bivalent Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, June 20, at the Batangas Medical Center (BatMC) here.
A1 and A2 groups include healthcare workers, senior citizens, and adults with comorbidities, including immunocompromised conditions.
“Covid-19 and its variants still persist and can still threaten our lives. Kaya mahalaga po ang papel ng booster para sa mas PinasLakas na proteksyon laban sa Covid-19 (That is why booster shots are important protection against Covid-19),” said Regional Director Ariel Valencia.
A total of 52,740 doses of bivalent vaccines were allocated to the region out of 391,860 doses donated by the Lithuanian government to the country.
Dr. Ramoncito Magnaye, BatMC chief, was the first to be inoculated by the Covid-19 bivalent vaccine.
“It po ang ika-limang bakuna ko. Ang aking third booster (This is my fifth vaccine, and my third booster). I am the first Batangueno na nakatanggap ng bakuna noong unang bakunahan palang ng first dose, second dose, at booster dose at awa naman po ng Diyos never po ako nagka-Covid and now I want to continue the protection, para maprotektahan ang mga Batangas Medical Center Staff,” Magnaye said.
Based on the guidelines, an individual may get a bivalent vaccine after at least four months after receiving their second booster shot.
“Ang bivalent kasi, it covers 'yung mga variants na naitalang mas marami sa atin. Base sa guidelines, kailangan matapos mo 'yung two booster shots bago itong third booster. Kung 'yan ay nakatuon sa variant na lumabas, 'yan ang epektibo doon kasi 'yan ang basehan noong ginawa ang bakuna,” Valencia added.
DOH aims to vaccinate 244,052 in the Calabarzon region.