THE CITY Health Office (CHO) finalized details with stakeholders of the city’s bivalent COVID-19 vaccine third booster rollout.
Daryl Guevarra, CHO health information education officer, during the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Monday morning, June 26, said: “Sa karon, ongoing ang pagplantsa sa rollout nga ipahigayon. Naa’y final meeting with private partners and hospitals ipahigayon sa hapon. If ready na, i-announce nato sa official FB sa City Government of Davao and CHO (Currently, the rollout details are being ironed out. There will be a final meeting with private partners and hospitals in the afternoon. If it is ready, we will announce it on the official FB of the City Government of Davao and CHO).”
She said the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines consist of two components: one targeting the original virus strain to offer broad protection against the virus and the other targeting the omicron variant for enhanced protection.
“Giusa ang duha ka strain (The two strains were combined in the bivalent vaccine),” she said.
Vulnerable sectors aged 18-above, including healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities, will be prioritized in the bivalent vaccine.
But Guevarra said only those with the first and second booster doses could avail of the third booster bivalent vaccine jab regardless of their first boosters.
The first and second doses and first and second boosters are available at People’s Park from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at district health centers every Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
She underscored that the bivalent vaccine is enhanced to fight the ever-evolving virus.
“Ang COVID-19 virus naa pa gihapon, wala pa mawala. Ga-circulate pa gihapon, mag-evolve ra na sya. Pahimangno nato sa mga Dabawenyo nga to observe minimum public health standards (The COVID-19 virus is still there, it’s not gone. It will still circulate, and it will evolve. We’re advising Dabawenyos to observe minimum public health standards),” the city health official said, adding that a lot of diseases could be prevented by frequent handwashing or using alcohol and wearing face masks.
She also reminded public utility vehicle (PUV) passengers to keep wearing masks to protect themselves from others who might cough or sneeze.
An immunized individual may experience headache or fever only for a short term and can be remedied with medicines, but the protection from contracting severe COVID-19 symptoms lasts longer. However, she said the temporary side effects of getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot far outweigh the benefits one can gain.
