The Department of Health (DOH) is now preparing cold storage facilities in the country for storing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines once it becomes available, an official of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

“Very important na naka set up na ito. Ito naman talaga ang ginagawa ng DOH sa ngayon to make sure that the cold chain is ready in case na bumili na tayo ng vaccine (It is very important that it is set up. This is exactly what the DOH is doing right now to make sure that the cold chain is ready in case we already procure a vaccine),” said FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo during the Malacanang press briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Domingo noted that there is a specific temperature that should be maintained in order for a vaccine not to lose its efficacy.

“Ang mga bakuna napaka sensitive nyan. Hindi yan parang gamot na tableta na pwedeng i-transport ng basta-basta lamang. Each and every vaccine, depende po kung alin ang bibilin natin, meron yan temperature na set kung saan maari lang syang ma-store,” he said.

(Vaccines are very sensitive. It is not like a tablet drug that can be transported easily. For each and every vaccine, depending on which one we buy, there is a specific temperature where it can only be stored.)

“Halimbawa ang vaccine na ito ay two to eight degrees lamang sya dapat, kapag nalagay sa lugar na 10 degrees biglang mag change ang kulay nyan at iyon, hindi na pwedeng gamitin. Itatapon na iyon,” he added.

(For example, this vaccine should only be kept in places with two to eight degrees temperatures, when it is placed in an area with a temperature of 10 degrees, the color will suddenly change and that it can no longer be used. It will be discarded.)

Sahar Pharmaceutical Representative Adeel Dhedi Bhyria said that it is best to prepare the storage equipment for vaccines right now before the supplies “run short.”

“I believe the most important part right now is that the Philippines should procure the supply of these equipment before they run short and the prices will jack up naturally. Not later when the supplies for these equipment run short and then we'll have to pay a higher price,” said Bhyria, who was also at the Malacañang press briefing.