FDA: Cold chain management a challenge to COVID-19 vaccine distribution

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday said it sees cold chain management as a challenge for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Interviewed on Balitanghali, FDA director general Eric Domingo highlighted the importance of cold chain management especially for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. He said failure to keep the vaccines in cold storages could complicate the inoculation program.

“Kapag lumampas siya sa temperatura na dapat stored siya, nawawalan na siya ng epekto,” he said.

“Maaaring iturok siya sa 'yo pero wala na siyang proteksiyon na ibibigay, kaya dapat very well maintained ‘yong cold chain,” he added.

Domingo also said adverse effects are also possible if the COVID-19 vaccine injected to someone was not handled properly.

“Kung talagang masyadong malaki ang variation ng temperature, baka magkaroon pa ng adverse effects,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) has assured the public that the government has enough cold storage facilities for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Aside from those from the private sector, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and its regional offices also have cold storage facilities.

The Philippines has allocated P73.2 billion for the procurement of the vaccines, with P40 billion coming from multilateral agencies, P20 billion from domestic sources, and P13.2 billion from bilateral agreements.

The Philippines aims to begin its mass inoculation program next month. —KBK, GMA News