The Ministry of Health (Minsa) has authorized the emergency use of bivalent vaccine from Pfizer. According to the Minsa, this version of the vaccine has better protection against circulating variants of COVID, including the original and omicrons BA.4/BA.5, XBB, BQ1, BQ1.1.
This vaccine is supplied in single-dose booster vials, administered at least two months after completing a primary vaccination schedule with any monovalent COVID vaccine and receiving one of the most recent booster doses. That is, having a minimum of two doses of the anticovid vaccine.
Monovalent vaccines are those that contain or encode the spike protein only from the original SARS-CoV-2, which is the one currently applied in the country; while the bivalent is 0.3ml, it provides greater protection against variants and is supplied in a gray capped vial with a gray bordered label and is undiluted before use.
The COVID vaccination process will resume on Monday 5 December at the Minsa health centers and the Social Security Fund (CSS) polyclinics.
Health authorities are asking people to maintain biosecurity measures such as wearing masks, physical distancing and hand washing, to avoid increasing the spread of COVID.
In case of symptoms, it is advisable to undergo a swab. If it tests positive, ask for the treatments that the Panamanian state has acquired to fight this virus.
