DA service boat carrying COVID-19 vaccines capsizes in Quezon

A service boat of the Department of Agriculture carrying COVID-19 vaccines capsized in the waters in Real, Quezon on Thursday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The incident occurred around 100 meters from the shoreline of Barangay Ungos.

The boat was carrying two boxes of COVID-19 vaccines, and also had on board two personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) at the time of the incident. They were joined by two police officers of the Municipal Police Station of Polillo, the boat captain, and a motorman.

Passengers said the boat accidentally hit a concrete post before capsizing, the PCG said.

All those on board were rescued and were declared in good physical condition, it added.

The vaccines were also in good condition after being examined by doctors, according to a report by Rod Vega on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday.

A total of 720 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines were to be brought to the Municipal Health Office in Polillo, while 920 doses were destined for the Municipal Health Office in Bordeos, also in Quezon.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday said during the Laging Handa public briefing that the vaccines were wrapped in double plastic.

“Apparently, ang mga bakuna ay naka-double na pagpa-plastic so ‘di po sila nagalaw at ating chineck ang potency at maaari pa rin po itong gamitin,” she said.

(Apparently, the vaccines are wrapped in double plastic so they are still safe. We also checked their potency and we found that these can still be used.)

Vergeire said the DOH is taking precautionary measures to avoid incidents like this.

Proper coordination with other government offices should be ensured to deliver the COVID-19 jabs to areas in the Philippines that are separated from the main islands.

“Alam naman natin na may mga lugar sa bansa na divided by waters, islands po ‘yan na kailangan maparating ang mga bakuna na ito. Sinisiguro na nakikipag-coordinate sa ibang ahensya para mas ligtas ang mga bakuna natin pati ang mga healthcare workers na nagdadala sa mga island groups,” she said.

(We know that there are areas in the country that are divided by waters. These are islands but we still need to deliver the COVID-19 vaccines to those areas. We ensure that there is proper coordination with other agencies to secure our vaccines and to ensure the safety of the health workers.) —With a report from Hana Bordey/KG, GMA News