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Gov't coordinates with logistics, cold storage firms on vaccine rollout
Gov't coordinates with logistics, cold storage firms on vaccine rollout
By Dhel Nazario
Coordination with logistics companies and cold storage providers has been made by the national government for the expected rollout of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines next month, the testing czar said Tuesday.
"Sa kasulukuyan po 28 cold chain providers na po ang nakausap at mayroon pa pong limang kinakausap sa kasalukuyan (Currently were have talked to 28 cold chain providers and we are still negotiating with five more)," Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID -19, Secretary Vivencio Dizon said during a Palace press briefing.
Dizon explained that it is important to understand that the COVID-19 vaccines that will arrive will require "very special" facilities.
"Ito po yung tinatawag nilang pharma-grade cold chain facilities or pharma grade cold storage facilities at ito pong mahigit na tatlumpung ito ang pinakamalalaking mga kumpanya na merong ganitong capacity (This is what they call pharma-grade cold chain facilities or pharma-grade cold storage facilities and these 30 or more are the biggest companies who have the facilities)," Dizon said.
Even with the coordination with the companies, Dizon noted that vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and the Department of Health (DOH) will still speak with other companies and associations such as the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines for other areas especially in provinces.
Dizon said that the vaccine czar, Secretary of Health and other members of the National Task Force vaccine cluster will inspect facilities such as Orca, Royal Cargo and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Zuellig.
On Monday, Dizon said that the start of the vaccination program may take place towards the third or fourth week of February, under the schedule presented by the vaccine czar. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility is expected by mid-February.
"The target is towards the end of February. The COVAX facility, for example, I think, we can expect in the middle of February, so towards the third and maybe the fourth week of February, we can see the start of the vaccination program on the ground," Dizon said during a television interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.