DOH: 2nd-generation COVID-19 vaccines available in Philippines by end of December

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines or bivalent vaccines that protect against the Omicron variant would be available in the country by the end of December.

At the press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are still in the process of negotiations with vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer regarding the procurement of the bivalent vaccines.

“Until now, I think yung bivalent vaccines tuloy tuloy ang ating negotiation. We already have several meetings with Moderna manufacturer kung saan we have already submitted our term sheets,” Vergeire said.

(Until now, I think we are continuing our negotiations on the procurement of bivalent vaccines. We already have several meetings with the Moderna manufacturer with whom we have already submitted our term sheets.)

“Meron din tayong hinahandang pagpupulong with Pfizer manufacturer naman kaya lang we are still finalizing our confidentiality disclosure agreement,” she said.

(We are also preparing for a meeting with the Pfizer manufacturer. However, we are still finalizing our confidentiality disclosure agreement.)

“Now with these two, we are estimating na ang earliest na magkaroon tayo hopefully ay by the end of the December or first quarter of 2023 kasi kailangan pa to go through the different clearances for regulation itong mga bakunang ito,” she added.

(Now with these two, we are estimating that the earliest we will hopefully have these will be by the end of December or the first quarter of 2023 because we still need to go through the different clearances for regulation of these vaccines.)

Vergeire also said that Moderna had already submitted their complete dossier or vaccine documents with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Private sector procurement

Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) Chief Dr. Nina Gloriani on Friday said the private sector was also looking to procure at least 10 million doses of the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.

At the public briefing, Gloriani said the private sector would survey how many or who would get the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines to avoid vaccine wastage.

“Yung sa Go Negosyo yung private group ni sir Joey Concepcion they are looking at 10 million doses pero nagsu-survey sila kung sino talaga yung magpapabakuna kasi ayaw natin maulit yung wastage na nangyari before,” she said.

(Go Negosyo, Mr. Joey Concepcion's private group, is looking to procure at least 10 million doses but they are still surveying who will get the vaccine because we don't want to waste vaccines again.)

Concepcion, who is a member of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Private Sector Advisory Council, earlier said that the Philippines should stock up on antiviral medicines and bivalent vaccines to boost the country’s defense amid the recent rise in COVID-19 cases.

Gloriani said so far the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not yet received an application for the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the bivalent vaccine.

“As of now ang alam ko, wala pang nag-aapply sa FDA. It takes at least a month or so para maevaluate after application and of course yung procurement shipping process medyo matatagalan pa. We don’t know baka as we speak nagaapply na ngayon pero as of last week wala pang application for bivalent vaccine,” she said.

(As of now, as far as I know, no one has applied to the FDA. It takes at least a month or so to be evaluated after the application and of course, the procurement shipping process will take a little longer. We don't know, maybe as we speak an application is being filed. But as of last week, there is no application for the bivalent vaccine.)

The VEP chief said the vulnerable groups including the elderly, persons with comorbidities, and healthcare workers would be the first to receive the bivalent vaccine.

She also said that vaccinations needed to be targeted to prevent wastage.

Gloriani said they are also evaluating booster shots for children aged 5 to 11.

“Mayroon nang naka-application and actually ongoing ang evaluation. Hindi pa po nafi-finalize,” she said.

(There is an application and an ongoing evaluation. It hasn't been finalized yet.)

The VEP chief then encouraged the public to get the available booster shot to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Yung hindi pa talaga nagpapa-booster, magpa-booster na po kayo. Hindi po natin kailangan hintayin yung bivalent vaccine kasi hindi natin sigurado kung kailan ito dadating,” she said.

(Those who haven't received boosters, get a booster now. We do not need to wait for the bivalent vaccine because we are not sure when it will arrive.)

“Ayon sa World Health Organization, yung tinatawag nating Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, hindi natin kailangan hintayin, mas mabuti magpabakuna agad with whatever is available to us. Ibayong pagiingat, continue to mask, yung hand washing, sanitation, at pagingat sa crowds close spaces,” she added.

(According to the World Health Organization, what we call the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, we do not need to wait, it is better to get vaccinated immediately with whatever is available to us. Take extra precautions, continue to mask, hand wash, sanitation, and be careful in crowds and closed spaces.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News