DOH urges Pinoys to get bivalent jabs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has urged healthcare workers, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals to get bivalent shots against COVID.

DOH records showed a low number of bivalent recipients.

“The daily average is 6,000 jabs per day. If many will get bivalent vaccines even on weekends, then we can use them all up faster,” Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag said.

The DOH said it would recalibrate its distribution of bivalent vaccines.

“By moving vaccines from slow-moving sites to fast-moving sites, we will improve (bivalent vaccine) coverage,” Tayag said.

Only 49 percent of the 391,860 doses of bivalent vaccines have been used, according to the DOH.

Tayag said they intend to use up all doses donated by Lithuania by the end of the month.

The DOH launched bivalent COVID vaccines on June 21.

Initially, the Pfizer bivalent jabs were only allowed as third booster dose for those aged 18 and above belonging to priority groups A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens).

The DOH later announced that bivalent vaccines may be given as a first, second or third booster dose for individuals aged 18 and above belonging to priority groups A1, A2 and A3 (adults with comorbidities).