The Minister of Health shared that Pfizer bivalent vaccines are also expected to arrive by early 2023. Both types of bivalent vaccines are updated, latest generation vaccines that targets, not only the original ancestral strain but also targets the latest variants derived from Omicron. These bivalent vaccines are able to provide better protection against newer COVID-19 variants of which studies have shown that receiving bivalent vaccines increases protection against severe disease by 30 to 50 per cent, as compared to receiving the first-generation vaccines alone.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer bivalent vaccines are proven to be safe and effective. They have been approved for use by the Brunei Darussalam Medicines Control Authority, BDMCA and also by other regulatory agencies from other countries including United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Singapore. The Ministry of Health encourages the public who are eligible and fulfill the criteria to get a booster vaccine dose to maximise protection against COVID-19. Those who wish to get the booster dose whether as their third or fourth dose can book their vaccination slot via the BruHealth App. As of today, the bivalent vaccine is only offered to adults aged 18 years and above. However, the Ministry of Health via the COVID-19 vaccine technical committee will continue to review the emerging evidence on safety and efficacy of bivalent vaccines in younger age groups and will update recommendations from time to time.
Source: Radio Television Brunei