The San Juan City local government announced on Monday, July 31, that the registration for bivalent Covid-19 booster shots is now open for individuals belonging to the A1 (Healthcare Workers), A2 (Senior Citizens), and Expanded A3 (Persons with comorbidities and pregnant women) categories. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora reminded that San Juaneño residents and workers belonging to the said categories who have already completed their first two regular doses are qualified to receive the bivalent booster shot. "Kailangan ding at least 4 months na ang nakalipas nang matanggap nila ang kanilang pinakahuling bakuna (Those who wish to be inoculated by the bivalent booster shot must have their last vaccination four months prior receiving the said booster)," Zamora added. The mayor instructed the public to first register using the link: [http://bit.ly/39Bi7ri](http://bit.ly/39Bi7ri) or scan the QR code that can be found on his official Facebook page to reserve their slot. The bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccination is on a first-come, first-served basis due to the limited number of vaccines the city has. "Hintayin ang inyong text confirmation para sa schedule ng inyong bakuna. Pakidala ang inyong  Regular Dose Vaccine Card at ang inyong 1st and 2nd booster vaccine card (if applicable) sa araw ng inyong schedule (Please wait for the confirmatory text for the schedule of your vaccination and bring your Regular Dose Vaccine Card and your 1st and 2nd booster vaccine card (if applicable) on the day of your schedule)," he noted. On June 22, the city government kicked off the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine inoculation program for those under the A1 category or healthcare workers living or working in the city as part of its efforts in ensuring the protection of its citizens against Covid-19 and its more transmissible variants. Those who fall under the A1.1 category (health workers in the Covid-19 referral hospitals designated by the DOH) and A1.2 category (frontline workers in public and private hospitals providing Covid-19 care) were given their doses first. These are workers from San Juan Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, St. Martin De Porres Charity Hospital, F. Manalo Puericulture Center, and LGU isolation facilities. The mayor explained that the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine has components that provide better protection against the original strain as well as the newer omicron variant. It helps in lowering the risk of severe illnesses, hospitalization, and death resulting from Covid-19. He reminded the public that the city still offers second booster shots to residents and non-residents of San Juan. Interested vaccinees may register with the city’s vaccine registration portal and wait for their scheduled vaccination. The country officially rolled out the bivalent Covid-19 vaccines on June 21, at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa urged the public, especially those belonging to the A1 category, to avail of the free bivalent vaccines to not just protect themselves from the virus, but also their loved ones and the community. He received his bivalent Covid-19 shot followed by over 2,500 healthcare workers. On June 3, the Lithuanian government donated 391,000 bivalent Covid-19 vaccines to the country. Another 390,000 doses of the same vaccine were also donated by the COVAX Facility on June 13.