Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 21) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged local government units to encourage the elderly and those with comorbidities to receive bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, saying they remain vulnerable despite the drop in cases.
“We call upon the local government units to bring those who are in the vulnerable category and encourage all of them to get these bivalent vaccines,” he said at the ceremonial vaccination in Quezon City on Wednesday.Marcos also said that while the general populace is experiencing much milder symptoms compared to the onset of the pandemic, senior citizens and people with underlying illnesses are still “highly vulnerable” amid the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.“We must not let our guard down… But rest assured, that with the use of science-based strategies and a whole of society approach, these risks will remain manageable,” he added.Last June 3, the Philippines received a total of 390,000 doses of bivalent vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government.The Food and Drug Administration previously said that bivalent vaccines include a component that not just corresponds to the original COVID-19 strain but also provides better protection against the Omicron variant and its subvariants.Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said that he would push for the acquisition of more bivalent shots.Marcos also urged Filipinos to “do their part” in preventing the resurgence of COVID cases.
