Updated vaccines required for better, stronger protection vs Covid-19 virus A child succumbs to cancer every three hours–DOH

By Rory Visco | Contributor

Priority targets of the vaccination for the bivalent vaccines are health workers or the A1 population and the elderly or the A2 set.

Those eligible should have had their second booster shots at least four to six months prior to getting bivalent vaccine jabs.

As of July 2023, the Philippines remains under a low-risk case classification with roughly 2,000 active Covid-19 cases.

Additional vaccines are in the pipeline since the Philippine government is still negotiating to get more of these “third” boosters from the COVAX (Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access) Facility, the global initiative that aims to ensure equitable and fair access to Covid-19 vaccines in every country.

Global perspective

T h e d e partment of h e alth ( d O h ) has long been advocating the acquisition of the bivalent vaccines that hopes to provide better and stronger protection for Filipinos against Covid-19. These vaccines are seen to provide protection against the original Covid-19 strain, the SA r S -CoV-2, and the Omicron subvariants such as BA.4 and BA.5. d r. Franco Felizarta, an infectious disease specialist and a member of the UP Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA), provided some updates on bivalent vaccines. h e said that in the United States, monovalent vaccines are no longer being used. h o wever, uptake is quite low.

As to the global death curve and overall activity for Covid-19, d r. Felizarta said with regards to the epidemic curves, the n o rmalcy i n dex is seen to be increasing to almost 100 percent. i n 20 20 and 2021, he said there were more than 10 million Covid-19 deaths per year for an estimated total of 25 million.

“ i f y ou look at it now, there are less restrictions, no social distanc - ing and minimal masking, at least in the US. Globally, despite the increase in activity, the emergence of newer variants and decreasing vaccine uptake, and deaths continue to drop, the world can now be transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic phase, which may be established in another year,” d r. Felizarta pointed out during the latest Stop C.O.V. i d d ea ths webinar entitled “Bivalent Vaccines, n a ndito na: Ano ang l a test?” and organized by the University of the Philippines together with the n a tional Telehealth Center.

Updating Covid-19 vaccines d r . Gloriani again reminded that although the Public h e alth e m ergency of i nternational Concern (Ph ei C ) was lifted May of this year, the SA r S C oV-2 continues to

ACCO r din G to d r n i na Gloriani, a member of the World h e alth Organization Scientific Steering Committee for Solidarity Vaccine Trials and former dean of the UP Manila College of Public h e alth, the original SA r S C oV-2 virus continues to evolve and this requires the updating of Covid-19 vaccines. She said it is important that vaccines keep pace and be updated to match the strains of the virus that are circulating.

She also reported that in the Philippines, the Pfizer bivalent vaccine was awarded with the Certificate of Product r e gistration (CPr ) b y the Philippines’ Food and d r ug Administration, but only as a “booster” dose and not as a primary shot.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

circulate, where most cases are due to the Omicron subvariants. She also reiterated the importance of updating vaccines since immunity wanes over time, and the variants that emerge may evade previously generated immunity.

“All persons should stay up to date with recommended Covid-19 vaccinations, including bivalent booster doses for those eligible. We now have to integrate Covid-19 vaccination into the country’s routine immunization program, just like the flu vaccines given in whatever season,” d r. Gloriani said.

Words of encouragement

FO r h e alth Secretary d r. Teodoro h e rbosa, he pointed out in a video message that the government’s tireless efforts to fully vaccinate Filipinos have enabled the country to strengthen its wall of immunity against the virus, which led to the re-opening of the economy and Filipinos’ gradual return and march toward a “better normal.”

“We shall continue to apply our layers of protection, and with the arrival of the bivalent vaccines, the d Oh will continue to make arrangements to secure additional vaccine donations from COVAX, which shall spark the expansion of coverage of bivalent vaccines for the general public.” he l ikewise encouraged more Filipinos to get vaccinated, whether the bivalent or monovalent ones, and get boosted so there’s no longer any need to face the fears of the past.