ILOILO – The rollout of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as a third booster for priority groups such as health workers and senior citizens in Iloilo province has been going smoothly. Except its supply is running out.
“Actually, we don’t have any problem; nagakulang na kita sang vaccines,” said Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
The Department of Health (DOH) allotted 390 vials, or 2,430 doses, of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for the province. This was distributed to 13 district hospitals, including the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and its frontliners and rural health units (RHUs).
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.
According to Quiñon, the bivalent vaccine will be given as a third booster shot to health workers and those aged 18 and above who received their second booster four to six months ago.
There is also a demand for the booster from overseas Filipino workers but due to the limited supply, they have to wait for the next allocation from DOH, added Quiñon.
Currently, the only vaccine available from the provincial government is Sinovac for primary and booster shots.
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.
As of July 31, 1,378,132, or 94.28 percent, of the total population in the province had received their first dose; 1,292,720, or 88.44 percent, had received their second dose; 291,320, or 19.93 percent, had received their first booster; and 25,891, or 1.77 percent, had received their second booster.
A partial database system report from the IPHO showed 288 individuals inoculated with the bivalent vaccine.
Encoding and submission of reports per district hospitals and RHUs on its bivalent vaccine rollout accomplishments are ongoing./PN
