DOH eyes procuring second gen COVID-19 vaccines targeting old, Omicron strains by 2023

The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to buy second generation COVID-19 vaccines targeting the old and Omicron variants of the coronavirus by the first quarter of 2023, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

Vergeire made the announcement during the DOH's presentation of its proposed P301-billion budget for 2023 before the House Committee on Appropriations.

"We are already in the process of discussion with manufacturers of new generation COVID-19 vaccines targeting Omicron and the original strain of COVID-19. One manufacturer is finishing registration for approval in the United States, and we are preparing the term sheet," Vergeire said.

"For another manufacturer, we are working on a non-disclosure agreement. If we are able to proceed with these transactions, we will be able to procure the next generation of COVID-19 vaccine by the first quarter of next year," she added.

Vergeire then underscored the importance of getting the second generation COVID-19 vaccines, saying the immunity provided by the primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine is already waning.

"There is evidence that the immunity provided by the first two [or single] doses were affected and that immunity is already waning," she said.

"The assumption of our experts is that by the end of the year, this [waning immunity] will be progressive among those who do not have a first booster, and this will affect the immunity of our population and increase our admissions in hospitals," the DOH official added.

As this developed, Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin called for amending the definition of a fully vaccinated individual to someone who got primary COVID-19 vaccine doses and at least one COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Garin, a former DOH secretary, made the pitch given that only 21% of those fully vaccinated got a booster shot so far.

"Nasaan ba ang problema? I believe it's in the messaging because we keep on insisting na fully vaccinated ka na sa dalawang dose. Hindi tayo nagiging transparent, hindi tayo nagiging buo sa desisyon na ang katotohanan, nu'ng pumasok 'yung Delta at dumagdag pa 'yung Omicron variant at subvariant, ang isang fully vaccinated person ay iba na ang naging depinisyon. Kapag dalawang beses lang nabakunahan ay undervaccinated — inadequate ang kanyang proteksyon. Kaya kailangan ng isa pang bakuna, at 'yung ikaapat na bakuna, 'yun ang magiging totoong booster," Garin said.

(Where lies the problem? I believe it's in the messaging because we keep on insisting that a person is fully vaccinated with two doses. We are not being transparent, we have not fully decided that the truth is, with the emergence of the Delta [variant], the Omicron variant and its subvariants, the definition of a fully vaccinated person has changed. With only two vaccine doses, a person is undervaccinated — the protection is not enough. That is why a person needs another vaccine shot, and the fourth dose [second booster] will be the real booster.)

"The government should amend this by stating that you will be only considered fully vaccinated if you received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine," she added. 

On Thursday, Vergeire said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has expressed inclination to provide a budget for the procurement of the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.

She said that part of their appeal to Congress for the 2023 fiscal year is for the budget for these new generation COVID-19 vaccines to be part of the programmed funds of the DOH.

Meanwhile, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo said that research and studies on these new generation vaccines are continuously done by local health experts to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

"Ang pagbabakuna po ay hindi natatapos sa isang pananaliksik o dalawa. Continuous po 'yan sapagakat dumarating na ang mga variants. 'Yung bagong bakuna na maaring makasagot sa bagong variants, napaka-welcome news po niyan," she said at a public briefing.

(Vaccination doesn't end with a research or two. That's continuous because the COVID-19 variants are coming. News on the new vaccines that can respond to the new variants is very welcoming.) —KG/RSJ, GMA News