Zuellig Pharma ready to store, distribute COVID-19 vaccines —exec

The Zuellig Pharma Corp. is ready to manage COVID-19 vaccines with its cold chain facilities after expanding its capacity, its official said on Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Zuellig Pharma’s chief business officer Janet Jakosalem said they can provide all the temperature requirements for the vaccines.

“Naghanda na po kami ng additional capacity. Bumili na kami ng mga freezers…Nag-expand na ho kami para ma-accommodate 'yung additional requirements ng bakuna,” Jakosalem said.

“Pati ho doon sa warehouse namin sa Cebu tsaka Davao din, nagdagdag na kami ng capacities doon. So ready na ho talaga kami,” she added.

According to Jakosalem, Zuellig Pharma offered the government an end to end service wherein the provider will also manage the release of the vaccines from the Bureau of Customs.

From the airplane, Zuellig Pharma will load the vaccines onto trucks and deliver them in a warehouse to store them in their required temperature.

Jakosalem said Zuellig Pharma will also set up a digital platform to support the planning of vaccine supply that can be monitored by the teams in vaccination sites.

With this platform, the vaccine's second dose for individuals can be tracked as well as the possible adverse events that recipients may experience after the shot.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines may start its COVID-19 vaccine rollout this February. —KG, GMA News