DOH: No COVID-19 calamity state, no bivalent jabs

MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Health (DOH) warned yesterday that the country’s purchase of bivalent vaccines may no longer push through if the state of calamity due to COVID-19 will not be extended.

“If the extension will not be approved, we can still continue with the COVID-19 vaccination program using existing doses, considering their validity is hinged on their Emergency Use Authorizations. But we cannot procure additional doses, including the bivalent vaccines,” it said in a statement.?

Bivalent vaccines are new generation jabs that target specific variants of COVID-19, notably the more transmissible Omicron.

The DOH said these should be made available in the country by the first quarter of 2023.?

“It is also expected that the number of vaccinators will decrease as other cadres such as pharmacists may no longer be tapped, and willingness to vaccinate may decrease as immunity from liability is not guaranteed,” the agency said.

However, the DOH said it would continue to consider other alternatives to ensure undisrupted vaccination, including the granting of a special authority to purchase and the passage of the Philippine Center for Disease Control (CDC) bill.

It added that it is conducting talks with vaccine manufacturers and the COVAX Facility about securing the bivalent vaccines this coming year.?The DOH also requested the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to have the CDC Bill “certified as urgent by the President.”

“Once passed into law, the CDC Act shall serve as legal basis for the continued and uninterrupted implementation of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program and response for other future public health emergencies, without the need for the declaration of a state of calamity,” it pointed out.

“They are studying it (submitted recommendations) carefully. We are continuously coordinating with the Office of the President. Let us wait for the President’s decision,” it said.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said they have submitted an official request to President Marcos to extend the state of calamity due to COVID-19.?

“We already submitted our memo for the President requesting the extension of the state of calamity in consideration of the fact that the Center for Disease Control Bill was not enacted on time,” she said.

The country remains in a nationwide COVID state of calamity after Marcos extended the declaration until Dec. 31.

The extension allowed the government to continue implementing measures against COVID-19 and access pandemic response funds.