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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH coordinating with vax makers for possible shelf life extension of near expiry, expired COVID-19 vaccines

DOH coordinating with vax makers for possible shelf life extension of near expiry, expired COVID-19 vaccines

Published Dec 11, 2021 03:11 pm

(UNSPLASH / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is currently coordinating with the vaccine manufacturers if there is a possibility to extend the shelf-life of their respective vaccines which have already expired or are near expiry.

“Ito pong mga bakuna na na-expire at to expire ay naka-quarantine po iyan because we are coordinating with the vaccine manufacturers as to their additional evaluation kung puwedeng ma-extend ang shelf life ng mga ito (These vaccines that have expired and are about to expire are quarantined because we are coordinating with the vaccine manufacturers as to their additional evaluation if the shelf life of their vaccines can be extended),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a public briefing.

In a radio interview, DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said about two million vaccines will expire by the end of this month and January. Meanwhile, at least 100,000 vaccines that have already expired were currently placed in cold chain facilities.

“Wala tayong dini-dispose... naka-quarantine ‘yan. Ibig sabihin pag naka-quarantine, hindi puwedeng gamitin pero tinitignan kung puwedeng gamitin (We are not disposing ... they are quarantined. This means they cannot be used. But we are looking at if these can still be used). They're all in the regional warehouses of the DOH, regional health offices,” said Cabotaje in an interview over radio DZBB.

She said that the usual shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines is about six months.

Last Dec. 3, the DOH said that shelf life of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech can be extended from six months to nine months.

READ: DOH says shelf life of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can be extended to 9 months

Related Tags

Department of Health (DOH) covid-19 vaccine shelf life
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