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DOH: 100 Pfizer vials wasted, 7 health facilities damaged due to Typhoon Odette
By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA News Around 100 vials of the Pfizer vaccine were wasted due to power interruptions caused by Typhoon Odette in Iloilo while seven health facilities were damaged in Caraga and Region 7, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the 100 vials were allegedly wasted in Bingawan, Iloilo Province. The DOH on Thursday clarified that the 100 vials were wasted in Badiangan town.
“So we are closely monitoring these affected local governments. For now ito pa lang ang report, itong 100 vials ng vaccine, Pfizer, dito sa Region 6 because of power interruptions,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.
(So we are closely monitoring these affected local governments. For now, this is all that was reported, the 100 vials of the Pfizer vaccine here in Region VI because of power interruptions.)
“The NVOC (National Vaccines Operatiion Center) shall replenish stocks of Region 6,” she later added.
Vergeire said the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4-A, Region 5, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, and Region 12 reported no vaccine wastage.
Meanwhile, the assessment for Regions 7, Region 8, and Caraga is still ongoing.
The health official previously said the Vaccine Cluster has mandated that all units shall ensure that the temperature of vaccines is maintained in areas with power outages and that facilities are fully backed up with power sources.
Vergeire also said local governments were able to protect their facilities, resulting in minimal wastage.
“Despite the blackout and intermittent power supply for days, many local governments are now successful in protecting their vaccine storage facilities, mobilizing their vaccines to facilities with backup generators,” she said.
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Meanwhile, a total of 637 LGUs canceled their vaccination activities due to Odette.
“LGUs in Region 4-B, Region 6, 7, and 8, and Caraga have reported 100% cancellation of their vaccination activities due to typhoon Odette,” Vergeire said.
The DOH also said that seven health facilities were damaged by the typhoon in Caraga and Region 7 with an estimated cost of damage at P8.3 million.
These are three barangay health stations in Caraga, the Madrid District Hospital in Surigao del Sur, the Siargao District Hospital in Surigao del Norte, the Provincial DOH Office in Surigao del Norte, and the Center for Health Development 7 compound.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said DOH-Centers for Health Development (CHD) have prepositioned P11.8 million worth of drugs, medicines, medical supplies, including PPEs and other COVID-19 supplies, to its provinces.
Around P66.6 million worth of commodities are also available at the DOH Central Office while P272 million worth of commodities are ready for deployment at CHDs.
Vergeire called on the public, especially evacuees, to comply with minimum public health standards. She also called on LGUs to appoint safety officers and to separate the vulnerable population.
“Please provide separate areas for the vulnerable population katulad ng ating nakakatanda at saka ‘yung may mga comorbidities,” she said.
The health undersecretary also urged the public to get vaccinated.
“Vaccination also remains to be the most effective way of protecting ourselves and our loved ones from all variants of COVID-19... effective in preventing severe infections, hospitalizations, and even deaths,” she said.— AOL/VBL, GMA News