Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 13) – The Department of Health (DOH) has started to roll out the first batch of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines and negotiations are underway to procure more, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Tuesday.
“I think they have already been redistributed to the different region(al offices) of the Department of Health,” Herbosa said in a statement.
He added that to procure more bivalent vaccines, they have to be registered with the Philippines’ Food and Drugs Administration.
The emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines has been revoked since the public health emergency was lifted.
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The first batch of bivalent vaccines arrived in the country on June 3.
The 390,000 doses, which will expire on Nov. 23, were donated by the Lithuanian government.
Herbosa said the majority of the bivalent vaccines were distributed in Metro Manila.
DOH earlier urged manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines to apply for a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) with FDA.
With a CPR from the FDA, vaccines may be available in the market for purchase by the public. However, the national government may still subsidize a portion of the cost of vaccines if needed by the vulnerable sectors.
READ: DOH: COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers encouraged to apply for product registration
