Few COVID vaccine recipients in Marikina backed out, mayor says

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Sunday said that at least five out of the nearly 2,000 prioritized recipients of COVID-19 vaccines of a hospital backed out a day before the vaccination rollout.

Interviewed on "Dobol B TV," Teodoro noted that the city government already prepared a list of substitutes of the scheduled recipients who will not show up during the vaccination.

“Dito sa ospital namin, to be honest and candid, meron kaming naka-schedule na babakunahan na kulang-kulang P2,000. Ito 'yung nagbigay na ng consent. Last minute, may nag-back out na lima,” he said.

According to Teodoro, the vaccine can only last up to five hours once diluted.

Earlier, San Lazaro Hospital’s infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante warned of COVID-19 vaccine wastage

He said a vial of COVID-19 vaccine can be administered to four to five recipients.

To avoid wastage of COVID-19 vaccine supply, Solante recommended preparing some backup recipients to be on stand-by in case some scheduled receivers of the shot fail to show up.

Also, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya earlier said the biggest challenge for local governments in the COVID-19 inoculation drive is the low demand among their residents. —LBG, GMA News