Expert warns of COVID-19 vaccine wastage due to no-show recipients

Published February 14, 2021 10:18 AM By JOVILAND RITA,GMA News

An infectious disease specialist on Sunday warned of COVID-19 vaccines wastage possibly due to recipients failing to show up for their vaccination schedule.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, San Lazaro Hospital’s infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante pointed out the importance of every dose of available vaccines.

“Halimbawa, na-reconstitute mo na 'yung vial na 'yan tapos merong hindi nakapunta, so sayang,” Solante said.

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 fails to show up.

“Kaya 'yung advise niyan...meron ka talagang back up na, kung hindi nakapunta, nandoon na siya. Para lang, at least, in case na magkulang 'yung babakunahan, nandoon 'yung back-up para hindi masayang talaga,” he added.

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

According to the Department of Health (DOH), vaccination will roll out by priority groups, starting with frontline health workers, indigent senior citizens, remaining senior citizens, remaining indigent population, and uniformed personnel.

Earlier, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian noted that the city's online registration traffic for COVID-19 vaccination was sluggish.

In Quezon City, meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte said only 37,899 out of 74,793 residents

who answered a survey said they were willing to be vaccinated. According to her, 10,819 residents refused to get vaccinated while 26,725 said they were undecided.

Health experts said that Filipinos’ trust and confidence in vaccines may be the next challenge in responding the COVID-19 emergency.

“Over and above the issue of safety, we’re dealing with a bigger issue of trust and vaccine confidence,” DOH technical advisory group member Dr. Anna Ong Lim said.

An earlier OCTA Research survey indicated that only 25% of Metro Manila residents were willing to get vaccinated.

A separate survey by pollster Pulse Asia also showed that 47% of Filipinos were not inclined to get a COVID-19 jab, mostly due to safety reasons.

According to the DOH, an intensified information dissemination drive on the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine can increase vaccine confidence of up to 85%. —LBG, GMA News

 

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