Van with Sinovac vaccines had to wait for 40 minutes at V. Luna hospital

It took 40 minutes for personnel of the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City to receive the delivery of  Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines from the refrigerated van before dawn on Monday.

The van had to wait outside the hospital building until the pharmacist received the vials, according to GMA News reporter Darlene Cay.

Mahigit 15 minuto nang nandito sa V Luna Medical Center ang refrigerated van na may dala ng mga Sinovac vaccines. Hanggang ngayon, naghihintay pa rin ang mga pulis ng magrereceive galing sa ospital. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/WpiVZ8GUi5

— Darlene Cay (@DarleneCay) February 28, 2021

40 minutes after the arrival of the refrigerated van, Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccines have now been unloaded at the V Luna Medical Center. They were received by pharmacist of the hospital. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/N4ykY1Qbdc

— Darlene Cay (@DarleneCay) February 28, 2021

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Monday, AFP Health Service Command Public Information Office’s Captain Rhey Mallorca assured the public that the vaccines were handled well despite the delay.

“The team of AFP Health Service Command who are in charge of facilitating these vaccines are ready naman po to make necessary adjustment because knowing the chain of command in inspecting these vaccines is very crucial,” Mallorca said.

“We need to ensure the public the safety even though delay kaunti, the safety of the vaccines are in good hands naman kasi ‘yung carrier na ginamit these are cold chain carriers,” he added.

According to Mallorca, they are investigating what caused the delay.

“Basically, the 40 minutes kasi siguro ‘yung van was at the ER stand-by,” he said.

Mallorca also pointed out that the initial schedule for the transport of the Sinovac vaccines to the hospital was at 5 a.m. but it was moved to 1 a.m.

The hospital received 600 doses of Sinovac vaccines.

Only 30 people are scheduled to receive the shots on Monday due to the time constraint of the ceremonial vaccination that will be held at the hospital, he said.

The Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines are part of the 600,000 doses donated by the Chinese government which arrived in the Philippines on Sunday.

Other doses were delivered before dawn on Monday to the Philippine General Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (Tala Hospital), and PNP General Hospital inside Camp Crame.

The vaccinations will start at 9 a.m. Monday, with ceremonies to be held in some government hospitals attended by Cabinet officials. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News