More than 4,500 doses of COVID vaccines wasted, says DOH

The Department of Health on Wednesday said over 4,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been wasted, but stressed that the figure is still relatively low.

During the briefing of the House committee on health on the DOH's proposed P242.22 billion budget for 2022, Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the handling of cold-chain facilities for COVID-19 vaccines has remained "very well-managed."

"Our wastage is very low. From March to August 20, we have accounted for only 4,528 total wastages in doses. Overall, except for this reports na nasunugan o kaya na-frozen 'yung mga vaccines, generally very careful at very well-managed 'yung ating cold chain for these vaccines," Cabotaje said.

(Except for the reports of fire incidents or frozen vaccines, the cold chain facilities have managed these vaccines well.)

The total number of COVID-19 doses administered in the country reached 33,099,392 million, as of August 29.

The government said at least 13.7 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This number, however, is way below the target of vaccinating 76.3 million Filipinos by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News