MANILA, Philippines — The Parañaque government has earmarked funding of P100 million for the procurement of new generation COVID-19 vaccines.
Mayor Eric Olivarez said the local government would purchase early next year the bivalent COVID vaccines, which reportedly offer better protection against the Omicron subvariants XBB and XBC.
“The purchase of second generation vaccines is necessary amid the rising cases of COVID infections among those who are fully vaccinated and boosted,” Olivarez pointed out.
On Tuesday, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion reiterated the importance of bringing into the country bivalent COVID vaccines to sustain economic recovery in the wake of the emergence of new Omicron variants.
Infectious disease expert Rontgene Solante raised the possibility that there are undetected Omicron subvariant XBB cases in the country.
The XBB is said to be more immune-evasive than the BA.5, the world’s dominant Omicron subvariant.
The Department of Health has reported that 81 cases of XBB subvariant and 193 cases of XBC subvariant have been detected in the country.
Olivarez has ordered city treasurer Anthony Pulmano to prepare the funding for the procurement of bivalent COVID vaccines.