The City Health Office (CHO) is finalizing details with stakeholders of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine third booster rollout in Davao City.
CHO health information education officer Daryl Guevarra, during the Madayaw Davao program of 87.5 FM 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 details of the rollout is 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 COVID-19, and the other targeting the omicron variant for enhanced protection against COVID-19 caused by this specific variant.
“Giusa ang duha ka strain (The two strains were combined in the bivalent vaccine),” she said.
She said vulnerable sectors aged 18-above, including the health care workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities will be prioritized in the bivalent vaccine rollout as they are the ones most susceptible to COVID-19.
But Guevarra said only those with the first and second booster doses can avail of the third booster bivalent vaccine jab regardless of what their first boosters were.
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, also 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.
The temporary side effects of getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot, according to her, far outweigh the benefits one can gain. 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. CIO
