DOH: Distribution of 1M Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine doses on hold over lack of document

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it has not yet started distributing the latest shipment of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine as it awaits the submission of a certificate from the Chinese drugmaker.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Sinovac has yet to release the certificate of analysis for the additional 1 million doses it delivered to the Philippines last week. 

“We cannot distribute or transport these vaccines to specific recipients... kung hindi kumpleto ang dokumento namin (if our documents are not complete),” she said in a briefing.

Last month, the distribution of Sinovac doses to vaccination sites was also delayed due to the lack of the same certificate. 

Pfizer doses

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the deployment of the 2.2 million recently delivered Pfizer doses is already underway. 

Citing vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Vergeire said 40% of the fresh Pfizer shipment will go to Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal, where infections are highest.

The remaining 60% will be deployed to other areas logging a high number of COVID-19 cases. 

Vergeire also said all of the 2 million AstraZeneca doses expiring by the end of June and July have been distributed and administered. 

Over 4.6 million individuals have been vaccinated as of June 8, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year. — RSJ, GMA News