DOH urges swift rollout of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines

The Department of Health called on local governments to swiftly roll out the over two million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines that arrived in the country on Saturday as these would expire in the next month or two.

"Limited or masyadong maigsi ang expiration date nila sa June and July ho yata ang expiration for this year," DOH-National Capital Region assistant regional director Dr. Paz Corrales said in Ian Cruz's Monday "24 Oras" report.

According to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, out of the over two million doses, 1,504,800 doses will expire by June 30, 2021; and 525,600 doses will expire by July 31, 2021.

The Center also said that once vaccines were received by the implementing units and vaccination sites, the AstraZeneca jabs should be administered within six days.

Meanwhile, those who received the AstraZeneca shot in March should be administered their second shots by May 18.

However, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo said that the longer the gap between doses, about one to three months, the higher the efficacy of the vaccine - between 85% to 90%.

Dr. Nina Gloriani, the head of the Vaccine Development Expert Panel of the Department of Science and Technology, meanwhile, said there was a window period of one to three months for the AstraZeneca vaccine so there would likely be no change in its efficacy. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News