Probe into unused near expiry COVID-19 vaccines ongoing, says Nograles

The fact-finding investigation into reports that some COVID-19 vaccines distributed to several local government units that were near expiry but were not administered during the vaccination drive Bayanihan, Bakunahan is still ongoing, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Saturday.

“We’re still doing a fact-finding investigation. Wala pa kaming [we still don’t have a] conclusion with regard to that,” Nograles said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje earlier said that the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is already investigating why some COVID-19 vaccines that were near their expiration date and distributed to LGUs were not administered during the vaccination drive.

“We are checking why some doses were not distributed because they were in the LGUs’ possession earlier. We are hoping that they were distributed or transported in other areas to get administered,” Cabotaje said.

Nograles said the government is being mindful of the expiration dates of COVID-19 vaccines it will be administering.

He said that vaccines with earlier expiration dates will be the first to be administered.

Meanwhile, the Palace official said the government’s vaccine cluster is evaluating the expiration date and is coordinating with vaccine manufacturers.

“In fact, nagsalita na si Secretary Charlie Galvez at iba pang member ng vaccine cluster na there are some vaccines na bagamat sinasabi ang expiration date is ganito, based doon sa pag-assess nila ay magagamit pa rin naman po. Meron tayong papeles na nagsasabi na puwede pang gamitin ‘yan,” Nograles said.

(In fact, Secretary Charlie Galvez and other members of the vaccine cluster have said that although it says that the expiration date is on a certain day, based on assessments it can still be used beyond its expiry. We have papers showing it can still be used.)

He added that with regard to accepting donated vaccines the government has set parameters such as not accepting near-expiry doses.

Around 8 million individuals were inoculated against COVID-19 during the November 29 to December 1 Bayanihan, Bakunahan vaccination days, Cabotaje reported Friday.

A second round of Bayanihan, Bakunahan will be held on December 15 to December 17. —KG, GMA News