ILOILO – This province is receiving today from the Department of Health (DOH) 2,430 doses of Pfizer bivalent vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The bivalent vaccine includes a component that corresponds to the original virus strain to provide broad protection against COVID-19, and a component that corresponds to the omicron variant to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
The 2,430 doses for Iloilo are part of the 390,000 doses of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines donated by the government of Lithuania.
Since supply is limited, health workers / frontliners in 13 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town and in Rural Health Units (RHUs) will be prioritized for vaccination, according to Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
Senior citizens and persons with comorbidities will also be prioritized, she added.
When supply is no longer a problem, vaccination will be expanded, said Quiñon.
Vax Guidelines
On March 31, 2023 then DOH officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire issued Department Memorandum No. 2023- 0178 setting interim guidelines on the management and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer Bivalent.
“The COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent roll-put shall employ a phased approach to prioritize the protection of healthcare workers and of the most vulnerable population and healthcare capacity, while expansion of stock availability is being pursued,” part of the guidelines’ read.
For Phase 1
* The COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent shall be given as a third booster dose for individuals aged 18 years old and above-belonging to priority groups A1 (health workers) and A2 (senior citizens) at least four to six months after inoculation with a second booster dose.
* Facility-based implementation shall be observed for the pilot- roll-out in select sites in all regions such as in the hospitals/ and/or health facilities (city health officer, rural health units).
For succeeding phases
* Other population groups shall be made eligible, subject to availability of stocks and other changes in context, such as relevant regulatory authorization, technical recommendations and executive directions.
* Expansion of eligibility and changes thereto shall be released through a separate issuance.
As of May 31, 1,378,081 individuals in the province received the first dose, second dose (1,292,665), first booster (290,023), and second booster (25,732).
The province has yet to reach its 70 percent target population of 1,461,756./PN
