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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Nancy Binay slams DOH for wastage of 7,500 COVID-19 vaccines in Bicol

Nancy Binay slams DOH for wastage of 7,500 COVID-19 vaccines in Bicol

Published Mar 24, 2021 06:11 pm

Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday, March 24 criticized the Department of Health (DOH) for allowing the wastage of at least 7,500 doses of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines allocated for the Bicol Region.

Senator Nancy Binay
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Binay said she is alarmed at the mishandling of these AstraZeneca vaccines, saying it is “totally unacceptable” and urged the government to be proactive in preventing the spoilage of these jabs.

The 7,500 jabs were part of the 22,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that were delivered to the Bicol Region last March 10. Except for the 7,500 shots, the rest of the vaccines were distributed to various hospitals in the region.

The 7,500 doses left were allegedly stored beyond the temperature requirement prescribed by AstraZeneca, which is only at +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. 

Rita Ang-Bon, DOH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program Coordinator in Bicol, said vaccines would its potency if they are stored in a wrong manner. 

According to Ang-Bon, the third party logistics provider tapped by the DOH, used a faulty thermometer. While the investigation showed that the temperature was at +2 to +8, they have no way of knowing if the company was able to maintain the temperature during the transportation.

“Nakakabahala yung balita na lumabas kahapon na merong 7,500 AstraZeneca vaccines sa Bicol ang mukhang hindi magagamit  (It is worrying to hear reports that there were 7,500 AstraZeneca vaccines in Bicol that can no longer be used) simply because of some freezer failure),” Binay said in a statement.

“Dahil sa kapabayaan (due to negligence), technically, about 7,500 people have been denied life-saving vaccines—or shall we say, 7,500 health workers ang hindi nabakunahan (were not vaccinated),” she further noted. “Given the shortage of vaccines, these kinds of mishandling are totally unacceptable,” she lamented.

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