00:00 It is expected that the Philippines will request 2 million doses of bivalent vaccines to the country this year.
00:08 Meanwhile, the Department of Health is also taking precautions against other diseases,
00:13 particularly the increasing cases of dengue and leptospirosis.
00:18 Mark Fetalco has the latest.
00:22 In the latest data from the Department of Health, 269,000 or almost 70% of the donations of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from Lithuania have been sent to the country.
00:33 As of January 2024, the expiration date of the vaccines has been set, but due to the rapid uptake,
00:40 the amount of donations will not be enough to cover the cost of the vaccines.
00:54 Because of this, the government in COVAX has requested an additional 2 million doses of bivalent vaccines that are expected to arrive in the country this year.
01:02 If the agency clarifies, bivalent vaccines can be classified as the first, second, or third booster.
01:08 But it is aimed at frontline health workers, elderly, immunocompromised, and not just the general population.
01:15 To our countrymen who are not included in the three categories, we do not recommend that you buy bivalent vaccines.
01:27 The continuous vaccination is followed by 12 cases of Omicron Subvariant EG.5 or Aries variant in the Philippines,
01:36 which is said to have also led to an increase in COVID-19 cases in other countries.
01:40 That is why the DOH has a strict reminder that you should not be complacent.
01:44 The pandemic is not over yet.
01:47 Although the Public Health Emergency was lifted,
01:56 it does not mean that we will not be vigilant.
02:04 Aside from COVID-19, the DOH continues to be vigilant against other diseases.
02:09 From January to July 15, 2023, more than 2,000 people contracted leptospirosis in the country,
02:15 higher than 1,300 at the same time last year.
02:20 The DOH is monitoring four regions due to the increase in dengue cases,
02:25 including Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Davao Region, and Sac-Sargent.
02:29 Mark Fetalco, for the country.
