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Delays seen in delivery of donated bivalent vaccines

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

March 14, 2023, 5:15 pm

<p>Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire <em>(File photo)</em></p>

Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire (File photo)

MANILA – There would be delays with the bivalent Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility which are expected to arrive this month, a health official said Tuesday.

“’Yung bivalent vaccines, medyo nagkakaroon lang tayo ng konting delays because alam naman ng ating mga kababayan, ‘yung state of calamity ay na-lift na (The bivalent vaccines, we’re having delays because our fellow Filipinos are aware that the state of calamity has been lifted),” Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a media briefing.

She noted there are certain conditions like immunity from liability and indemnification clauses which are required by manufacturers and international agreements which must be dealt with as the state of calamity was not extended.

“Ito lamang po ang atin hinihingan ng guidance coming from the Office of the President, if we can enter into this agreement with this immunity from liability and indemnification clauses na nakapasok diyan para mag go ahead ng mga transaksiyon at pakikipag-usap (This is what we’re asking for guidance from the Office of the President, if we can enter into this agreement with this immunity from liability and indemnification clauses included there so we can go ahead with the transaction and discussions),” she said.

Last month, the DOH said the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the bivalent vaccines from the COVAX Facility had been released.

The 1,002,000 doses of bivalent jabs are expected to arrive in the third or fourth week of this month.

Based on the agreement with the facility and the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council, the vulnerable population -- A1 (healthcare workers), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (individuals with comorbidities) -- would be the priorities for the donated vaccines. (PNA)



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