The Philippines is expecting to receive donations of bivalent vaccine doses Covid-19 from the Covax facility by the end of this year or early next year.
Covax facility is a worldwide initiative which aims to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.
Department of Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said 1.5 to two million doses of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines are needed to further protect healthcare workers and senior citizens nationwide.
He said when the vaccines arrive, Secretary Ted Herbosa will request that the vaccines will be administered immediately, he added.
Herbosa earlier said about 94 percent of the 390,000 doses of the bivalent vaccine donated by the Lithuanian have been administered.
They were given as booster doses for healthcare workers, senior citizens and the immunocompromised starting June 21.
Last June, the DOH said around 1.002 million doses of Pfizer’s bivalent jabs from the Covax facility will arrive in March.
Since the declaration of a state of calamity due to Covid-19 ended, clauses on indemnification and immunity from liability found in the agreements with the donating countries and/or manufacturers remain key impediments to the delivery of the donated vaccines.
When asked whether Pfizer bivalent jabs are already available in the market, Tayag said the DOH have not received any information on its arrival in the country and individuals who want to buy would still need a physician’s prescription for it. – PNA
