DOH says 69% of the donated COVID-19 bivalent vaccines have been administered

Transcript

00:00 To further protect health workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals,

00:05 the Philippines' request for additional 2 million doses of bivalent vaccines is expected

00:09 to arrive in the country within this year.

00:12 Mark Pataco tells us more.

00:15 269,000 or almost 70% of the donated bivalent COVID-19 vaccines have already been administered.

00:24 Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, these bivalent jobs are set to

00:28 expire in January 2024, but given the rapid uptake of the vaccines, the government has

00:48 already asked the COVAX facility for an additional 2 million doses of bivalent vaccines that

00:54 are expected to arrive in the country this year.

00:57 The DOH clarified that the bivalent vaccines can now be administered as a first, second,

01:02 or third booster to frontline healthcare workers, elderly, and immunocompromised people only,

01:07 and not to general population.

01:09 Meanwhile, the DOH has recorded a total of 12 cases of AG.5-Omicron

01:26 subvariant, the same variant that's been causing COVID-19 surge in other countries.

01:50 The DOH also reminded the public to take precautions against other diseases such as leptospirosis

01:55 and dengue.

01:57 From January to July 15, 2023, the total number of leptospirosis cases has reached more than

02:02 2,000, which is higher than the 1,300 cases recorded in the same period last year.

02:08 The DOH is monitoring four regions due to the increase in dengue cases, including Calabarzon,

02:13 Mimaropa, Davao Region, and Saksar Djen.

02:16 Mark Fetalko for The Nation.