Omicron-specific vaccines may become available in the country in early 2023, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

In a radio interview, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the manufacturer of the vaccine confirmed that they would release it by October. She added that only then could the Philippines initiate the process of applying for its use in the country.

"We will be reviewing that and, the way I see it with the processes we have, (it would be available) about early part of next year," Vergeire said.

This week, the United Kingdom became the first country to approve an Omicron-specific vaccine developed by Moderna.