Mayon Volcano evacuees who fall under the A1 and A2 categories will soon receive their bivalent Covid-19 booster shots, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Eric Tayag said in a media briefing on Monday, July 17.
"Binigyan kami ng balita ng Bicol Region na sila ay magkakaroon din ng pagbabakuna sa mga evacuation camps at gagamit na sila ng bivalent vaccines (The Bicol Region gave us news that they will also have vaccinations in the evacuation camps and that they will use bivalent vaccines)," he said, citing that the sinovac vaccine is currently being used as the second booster shot for the residents.
He reiterated that only those who have already received their second booster shot four months prior will be eligible for the third booster.
Tayag stated that there are appeals regarding the use of bivalent vaccines as first and second boosters, and the DOH is currently studying the viability of this.
"Marami ang umaapela sa amin na kung puwede yung bivalent Covid vaccine namin ay maibigay na as first or second booster. Ito ngayon ay pinag-aaralan namin (Many are appealing to us that if possible our bivalent Covid vaccine can be given as a first or second booster. This is what we are studying now)," he said.
The undersecretary noted that the donated 390,000 doses of said vaccines are reserved as third booster shots for healthcare workers and senior citizens.
There is no active Covid-19 case in any evacuation centers in Albay as of the moment, he added.