More than 390,000 doses of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government arrived in the Philippines on Saturday night, June 3.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines target the original virus strain and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the priority beneficiaries of the vaccines will be healthcare workers, senior citizens, individuals with comorbidities, and immunocompromised.
The Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Julia Netta Vildzius Peña and the Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union to the Philippines Dr. Ana-Isabel Sanchez-Ruiz witnessed the arrival of the vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
DOH officials and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Customs were also present during the ceremony.
“It is with great pleasure that we have received such generous donations from the Lithuanian Government and our sincerest gratitude to our partner agencies for being one with the DOH in seeing that within our reach is a bountiful future, one that is most achievable starting with ensuring that we have sufficient protection against the COVID-19 virus,” DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“To every eligible Juan and Juana, we urge everyone to get the opportunity to gain longer and stronger protection by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Together, let us move towards a healthier Pilipinas,” she added.
Negotiations for the vaccines started as early as August 2022, and was offered by the Lithuanian government last January 2023. CF