Cold chain group’s offer to help in COVID-19 vax distribution hangs as DOH prefers ‘pharma’ storage

While the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) offered a hand to play a role in handling the storage and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, it was left hanging as it is still yet to receive any formal word from the government.

“Gusto po lang namin i-manifest na ilang beses na kami nakiusap sa gobyerno para sa vaccine distribution,” CCAP president Anthony Dizon said during the Senate committee of the whole hearing on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program on Friday.

“Iko-confirm ko lang kay Senator Nancy [Binay] na sinabi ko kahapon na hindi pa nakikipag-usap sa amin ang gobyerno kaya hindi pa namin masimulan ang action plans,” Dizon said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, however, said the DOH is already in talks with four companies which have “pharma” cold chain.

“Ang mga kumpanya na aming nakausap ang Royal Cargo, Jack Diamond, LBC, Cool Air, and Zuellig,” Duque said.

Likewise, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the government is negotiating with those with pharmaceutical experience for the storage and distribution of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“Kaya nga mahalaga na kausapin natin ang group ng cold storage. Kasi baka may willing sa kanila na mag-shift sa pharma-grade,” Binay said.

Dizon said that the government is required to adhere to certain guidelines “pero hindi namin alam yun.”

“Handa naman kami tumulong hanggang ngayon,” the CCAP chief said.

Duque, meanwhile, said that while the government is directly negotiating with individual companies, the door is not yet closed for the association.

“Ang kinakausap namin ay derecho na sa mga providers pero pwede naman kami makipag-ugnayan sa inyong asosasyon,” the Health chief said.

Galvez earlier said that the government is expecting to receive the first batch of vaccine purchased from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac on February 20.

Duque said that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has a provincial cold storage ready.

“Next week we will check the cold storage in Metro Manila pati sa mga ospital. May cold freezer na po tayo na nabili ng DOH,” Galvez said.—AOL, GMA News