COVID-19 VAX. A healthcare worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine in this undated photo. The Department of Health said about 95.30 percent of the 390,000 donated doses of bivalent vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 have been administered to priority population groups. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said about 95.30 percent of the 390,000 donated doses of bivalent vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have been administered to priority population groups.
The agency disclosed that it is continuously negotiating with the COVAX Facility and Gavi to maximize vaccine allocation for the Philippines.
COVAX Facility is a worldwide initiative that aims to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines while Gavi is an international organization established to improve access to new and underused vaccines for the poorest countries.
Earlier, DOH Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said the country is expecting to receive 1.5 to 2 million doses of donated bivalent Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this year or during the first quarter of 2024.
"At present, the DOH is in the process of finalizing legal instruments to facilitate effective allocation of the vaccines until the end of the year," the agency said. "Definite timetable on its arrival is still to be determined."
A total of 78, 443, 972 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and 23,811,248 already received their booster shots as of March 19.
Meanwhile, the country has logged 4,113,054 Covid-19 infections with 2,771 cases, 4,043,588 recoveries, and 66,695 deaths as of Sept. 20. (PNA)
