BETTER PROTECTION. Physicians receive the Pfizer bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine during the launch of the campaign at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (July 6, 2023). Some 553 health workers under the provincial government were set to receive additional booster shots during the initial two-day drive that ended on Friday (July 7). (Photo courtesy of provincial government of Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government is rolling out some 2,340 doses of Comirnaty Pfizer-BioNtech-adapted bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for qualified health workers in capitol-owned hospitals across the province.
During the initial two-day vaccination campaign that started on Thursday, some 553 health workers were to receive additional booster shots after the launch at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the recipients were based on the list provided by the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“The vaccines have already been rolled out to the hospitals of the provincial government. They are now doing it (the vaccination),” he told reporters.
Diaz said that last June 16, the provincial government received 390 vials of Pfizer bivalent vaccines containing six doses for each vial or a total of 2,340 doses, which is a total allocation for the health workers under the province.
“The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 (Western Visayas) issued the guidelines on June 19, and on June 21, we requested for names of qualified personnel,” he added.
Once an additional screening is done, the PHO will submit another list of qualified health workers who will avail of the bivalent Covid-19 vaccines, Diaz said.
According to the DOH, the reformulated booster shot offers protection against the original virus strain and the Omicron variant and subvariants.
These will be given as a third booster dose to the priority groups, particularly healthcare workers and senior citizens, and shall be administered in designated health facilities.
Qualified for the initial rollout are those who received second booster doses four to six months ago. (PNA)
