President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins the Department of Health (DOH) in launching the bivalent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in a program at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City on June 21, 2023.

Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa receives his third booster dose during the event. 

Earlier this month, the Philippines received its first batch of said vaccines – which provide protection against the original COVID-19 strain and Omicron subvariants – with 390,000 doses donated by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. These have already been distributed to DOH regional centers nationwide.

According to the Department’s guidelines, the bivalent vaccines will be given as 3rd booster dose to the priority groups such as healthcare workers and elderlies who are 18 years old and above and shall be administered in designated health facilities.

Photos: Rey Baniquet/PNA