Bivalent jabs now available

MANILA, Philippines — With the bivalent vaccines against COVID-19 finally available in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) advised the eligible population to get a third booster jab against COVID-19.

The DOH reported that over 390,000 bivalent vaccine doses donated by Lithuania arrived in the country late Saturday.

“To every eligible Juan and Juana, we urge everyone to get the opportunity to gain longer and stronger protection by getting vaccinated against COVID-19,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said following the arrival of the bivalent vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“Within our reach is a bountiful future, one that is most achievable starting with ensuring that we have sufficient protection against the COVID-19 virus,” Vergeire added.

She explained that the donated bivalent vaccines will help boost the Philippines’ COVID-19 response by providing protection against the original COVID-19 strain, SARS-CoV-2, and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

The donated bivalent vaccine doses – closely guarded by the NAIA Bureau of Customs team – were loaded onto five trucks then transported to a cold storage facility in Parañaque City.

DOH has long been pushing for the acquisition of bivalent vaccines which can provide Filipinos better protection against COVID-19.

The agency noted that the Lithuanian government offered to donate bivalent vaccines to the Philippines last January. The arrival of the donated vaccines suffered delay due to logistical and administrative issues.

Health Assistant Secretary Leonita Gorgolon and Department of Foreign Affairs officials received the donated vaccines.

DOH continues coordinating with the COVAX Facility to get additional doses of bivalent vaccines.

Under DOH guidelines on the management and administration of the donated bivalent vaccines, those eligible to receive their third booster shots are health care workers (A1) and senior citizens (A2).

Eligible individuals may be vaccinated with the bivalent vaccines at least four to six months after getting their second booster shots.

Where is P12-billion frontliners’ allowance?

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, principal author of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act 1 (Bayanihan 1) at the House of Representatives, yesterday called out the DOH over its continued failure to release the P12.57 billion in COVID-19 allowances for frontliners.

In a statement, Villafuerte said that frontliners have not received their COVID-19 allowances from the DOH despite a pronouncement from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that they already released the fund to the health agency.

“We want to know from the DOH when it intends to release the balance of about P12.57 billion, from the P19.96 billion in COVID-19 benefits and allowances, due to HCWs (health care workers) and non-HCWs for their medical services rendered to our people at the height of the pandemic,” he said.

“This leaves a bad taste in the mouth,” Villafuerte claimed, underscoring that the allowances are provided for under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan 1.

Citing a United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines report, the lawmaker pointed out that 20,304 HCWs have not received their mandated COVID-19 allowances and other benefits totaling P1.94 billion since October 2021.

Medical frontliners working in 23 private hospitals in Metro Manila and in Batangas, Cavite, Cebu and Davao del Sur are the beneficiaries in waiting.

“Where is the balance of P12.57 billion ostensibly released by the DBM for the payment of arrears in emergency benefits and allowances due our HCWs and non-HCWs?” Villafuerte asked. — Rudy Santos, Sheila Crisostomo