An infectious disease expert yesterday expressed hope the arrival of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will help increase public interest in booster shots.
The Department of Health is in talks with vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna for the provision of bivalent jabs in the Philippines. It is planning to make available bivalent COVID-19 vaccines in the country by the first quarter of this year.
Dr Edsel Salvaña said medical professionals are banking on the introduction of bivalent doses in enhancing public interest towards booster shots.
“We hope that once we announce that we already have bivalent doses, there will be increased uptake in booster shots,” he said In a televised public briefing.
“Hopefully, these bivalent vaccines will not only boost immunity but also boost the vaccine uptake,” he added.
Salvaña explained that the bivalent doses are meant to be used as booster shots, and not for the primary series.
He said such the same protocol is followed in other countries where bivalent jabs are already available.
“Bivalent vaccine is only indicated as a booster. Even in the US, it’s the policy. For the primary series, or the first dose and second dose, it will still be the monovalent vaccine,” he said.
The DOH has said some 52.6 million fully vaccinated individuals have yet to get their booster shots, as of January 8.
This as merely 21.2 million individuals out of the 73.8 million fully vaccinated Filipinos have been given booster shots.
