ILOILO – Frontliners and health workers, particularly those working at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan, district hospitals and rural health units (RHUs), are being urged to avail themselves of the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said 43 RHUs and 13 hospitals in the province were given their allocation of the bivalent vaccines this week.
Among those encouraged to get their shots were those working in the COVID-19 ward, triage, and emergency room.
“The province of Iloilo has received 390 vials of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines or 2,430 doses. So far, ang aton local government units ginhatagan na naton sang ila allocation based sa need or number of health workers, likewise ang aton mga hospitals kag diri man sa IPHO,” Quiñon told Panay News yesterday afternoon.
There were 172 doses of bivalent vaccines left at the IPHO storage facility, which could be administered to senior citizens.
Health workers were the first to be given the bivalent vaccine because they have a higher risk of infection due to the nature of their work.
Quiñon was among the first health workers to avail themselves of it yesterday to lead and encourage other health workers in the province.
According to Quiñon, the bivalent vaccine will be given as a third booster shot to health workers and those aged 18 years old and above who received their second booster four to six months ago.
Because of this, the IPHO head asks the public, eager to avail themselves of it, to wait because it will be rolled out to the general public once additional vaccines are delivered and as long as the guidelines allow.
Vax guidelines
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 Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
“The COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent rollout shall employ a phased approach to prioritize the protection of healthcare workers and the most vulnerable population and healthcare capacity while expansion of stock availability is being pursued,” read part of the guidelines.
For Phase 1
* The COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer bivalent shall be given as a third booster dose for individuals aged 18 years old and above, belonging to priority groups A1 (health workers) and A2 (senior citizens), at least four to six months after inoculation with a second booster dose.
* Facility-based implementation shall be observed for the pilot rollout in select sites in all regions, such as hospitals and/or health facilities (city health offices, rural health units).
For succeeding phases
* Other population groups shall be made eligible, subject to the availability of stocks and other changes in context, such as relevant regulatory authorization, technical recommendations, and executive directions.
* Expansion of eligibility and changes thereto shall be released through a separate issuance./PN
