BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Negros Occidental received an additional supply of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine booster shots.
The doses the PHO received were the Pfizer second booster and bivalent booster shots.
Its distribution to the public, however, is still pending.
PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Girlie Pinonggan said they are still waiting for directives from the Department of Health (DOH).
Bivalent shots will be distributed first to frontliners, added Pinonggan.
On March 31, 2023, then DOH officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire issued Department Memorandum No. 2023-0178, setting interim guidelines on the management and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent.
“The COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent rollout shall employ a phased approach to prioritize healthcare workers and the most vulnerable population while expansion of stock availability is being pursued,” read part of the guidelines.
As of this writing, Negros Occidental has 121 active COVID-19 cases, according to the PHO.
It further reported that of the total 45,497 COVID-19 cases, 43,296 recovered while 2,079 died./PN
