PH receives first Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses

The Philippines received over 390,000 doses of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government, marking the country's first delivery of such vaccines.

These vaccines, which offer protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, arrived on Saturday night, June 3, at NAIA Terminal 3.

The DOH confirmed that the negotiation for the vaccines began in August 2022 and the offer was made by Lithuania in January 2023.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expedited processes and permit issuances for the vaccines' arrival.

The bivalent vaccines will be administered as a third booster dose for individuals aged 18 and above who are healthcare workers (A1) or senior citizens (A2), at least four to six months after their second booster jab.

Other population groups may become eligible based on stock availability and other contextual changes.

The pilot rollout will be conducted in selected hospitals and health facilities, with the vaccines to be immediately transported to different regions for implementation.