The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday disclosed its plan to buy second-generation vaccines which target the original strain and Omicron variants of COVID-19 by the first quarter of 2023.
During the DOH's presentation of its proposed P301-billion budget for 2023 before the House Committee on Appropriations, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are already in discussion with the manufacturers of a new generation of COVID-19 vaccines.
"We are already discussing with manufacturers of new generation COVID-19 vaccines targeting Omicron and the original strain of COVID-19. One manufacturer is finishing registration for approval in the United States, and we are preparing the term sheet," Vergeire said.
"For another manufacturer, we are working on a non-disclosure agreement. If we are able to proceed with these transactions, we will be able to procure the next generation of COVID-19 vaccine by the first quarter of next year," she added.
According to the DOH official, experts were able to come up with evidence that the immunity provided by the primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is already waning.
"The assumption of our experts is that by the end of the year, this [waning immunity] will be progressive among those who do not have the first booster, and this will affect the immunity of our population and increase our admissions in hospitals," she continued.
Prior to this, Vergeire said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed support and vowed to provide a budget for procuring the second-generation COVID-19 vaccines.
