THE Department of Health yesterday said preparations are underway for the rollout of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, with the first batch of donations is expected to arrive in the country next week.
In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is orienting local government units on the provision of the donated vaccines to priority groups.
Vergeire did not say what country donated the 391,000 doses but the “committed that, by next week, hopefully, we’ll receive it.”
“We are pushing for these doses so that we can already provide additional protection, especially to our vulnerable population,” she added.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are known to contain components of the Omicron variant, which will provide better protection against the COVID-19 virus.
Healthcare workers and senior citizens were previously identified by the DOH as the recipients of the first batch of bivalent vaccines.
Vergeire also said five vaccine manufacturers have applied with the Food and Drug Administration for certificates of product registration (CPRs) for their COVID-19 jabs. These are AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna, and Apolloplus.
“All of these are applications. Once you apply, the FDA will evaluate if they are worthy to be accepted, compliant, and has completed the requirements,” said Vergeire.
A CPR is issued by FDA upon the approval of an application to be registered as a health product. It is needed for manufacturers to engage in marketing, importation, exportation, sale, offer for sale, distribution, transfer, promotion, and advertisement of the health product.
