First batch of donated bivalent COVID-19 vaccines arrives in PH

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 3) — The first batch of over 390,000 doses of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government arrived in the Philippines Saturday night.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer Bivalent — known as Tozinameran+Famtozinameran (Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5) — covers both the original coronavirus strain and its Omicron variant.

According to the DOH, the doses will be transported to different regions for the first phase of the rollout.

As part of the initial phase, the bivalent vaccines will be given as a third booster shot for health workers and senior citizens.

The agency said these must be administered at least four to six months after the two sectors received their second booster shots, and only within hospital or health care facilities.

READ: DOH allots anticipated bivalent vaccines as 3rd booster for healthcare workers, seniors

Other sectors and population groups will be made eligible for the shots in the succeeding phases of the bivalent vaccine rollout.

The DOH is currently in talks with the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility for the delivery of another two million bivalent vaccine doses.