Philippines starts rollout of bivalent vaccines vs COVID-19

The Philippines has started the rollout of bivalent vaccines against COVID-19. Health workers and senior citizens who received second booster shots four to six months ago are eligible for the initial rollout of bivalent jabs. The bivalent vaccines are updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccines seen to protect against two virus strains: the original strain that the monovalent shots targeted, and the fast-spreading BA.4/BA.5 Omicron subvariants which drove a surge in cases in the Philippines in 2022.