DOH: Buffer in place to account for vaccine wastage

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday assured the public that there are provisions in place to account for vaccine wastage after 30 vials of COVID-19 vaccine were damaged in a Misamis Oriental fire.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said an investigation on the fire that hit the Misamis Oriental Provincial Health Office is underway but “most probably these [vials] will be considered wastage already” since the temperature was altered.

“Ito namang ating immunization program… nilalagyan po natin talaga ng buffer for wastage ‘yan so ito po ay hindi makakaapekto sa ating bakunahan or immunization program,” she said in a briefing.

(In our immunization program has a buffer for wastage so this incident will not affect our vaccination program.)

The fire broke out

DOH Region 10 director Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr. said 30 vials were damaged in the incident.

Vergeire said the vials were left over from the inoculation program.

“Ito pong mga ganitong nangyayari, these are accidents. Wala naman pong nag-will para mangyari ‘yan (It was an accident. No one wished for it to happen),” she said.

The Philippines has vaccinated over a million individuals as of April 13. —KBK, GMA News