San Juan City starts bivalent COVID-19 vaccine jabs

The San Juan City Government on Thursday rolled out the inoculation of healthcare workers with the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.

This developed a day after the national government officially started giving the doses to healthcare personnel on Wednesday.

According to Lei Alviz’s report on “Balitanghali,” the city’s frontline healthcare workers trooped to the FilOil Arena to avail of the third booster dose. Around 2,300 vaccine shots were allocated for the city.

As of Thursday, Mayor Francis Zamora said there are nine active COVID-19 infections in San Juan City. He attributed the low number of infections to the city’s high vaccination rate.

The Department of Health (DOH) previously said bivalent vaccines provide protection against the original COVID-19 strain SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

The DOH also said healthcare personnel are among those who would be prioritized in the bivalent vaccination, adding they would need additional protection against the virus.

Meanwhile, the health department explained the National Capital Region received 108,000 of the 390,00 bivalent vaccine shots donated by Lithuania early this month as 30% to 40% of the country’s COVID-19 cases are in the capital region.

Other cities and municipalities that received their vaccine allocation are Pateros, Marikina, Taguig, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay.

The DOH reminded the public to avail of their COVID-19 vaccine primary series, and booster doses, which are still available in their local health centers.

FDA approves

Meanwhile, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may soon be available to the public after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its certificate of product registration (CPR).

“Inaprubahan na rin ng ating FDA and CPR ng Pfizer for bivalent…Sa mga gustong makabili, kapag pumasok na, pwede na sigurong maireseta ng private doctor at pwede nang mabili ng ating private citizens,” Herbosa said.

(The FDA approved the CPR of the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Once it enters the market, those who want to avail it may seek a doctor’s prescription.)

Herbosa added that the DOH is negotiating with the COVAX facility to donate two million additional doses of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News