Senator Nancy Binay urged the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that local health units are able to follow protocols in the handling of life-saving coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Binay noted at that at least 348 vials of Coronavac had been rendered unusable in Makilala town in Cotabato after local health workers left vials in freezer without any electricity for two days.

“Checking if the vaccines are in good condition is the most basic of things. Vaccines are very precious commodity in these times,” Binay said in a statement on Sunday, May 16.

“Yung ilang minutong brownout nga lang nabubulabog na tayo (A few minutes of brownout already makes us anxious), what more if it’s for two days? Sayang ang mga bakuna. Kapag dumating ang mga ganitong sitwasyon at walang contingency, dedma na lang ba?” she pointed out.

The senator said it is crucial that the DOH provides checklist and briefers that LGUs and provincial health facilities can refer to in case sensitive situations, such as brownouts, typhoons, floods, or the lack of storage facilities, arise.

“Let's avoid oversight and carelessness on the ground given the complicated handling and logistics involved in bringing the vials to islands and far flung provinces,” she said.

“Ulit-ulitin po sana ng DOH ang pagpapaalala sa mga LGU na sundin ang handling protocols nang hindi masayang ang mga bakuna, (I hope the DOH would repeatedly remind local government units to follow protocols so vaccines won’t go to waste),” Binay said.

The senator, likewise, said LGUs must constantly monitor their processes to eliminate possible lapses. She said she doesn’t see the need for the government to appoint a “refrigerator czar” just to monitor the proper storage of these vaccines.

“Constant checking and counter-checking on each stage of the vaccine program should be a standard operating procedure (SOP),” she said.

The senator, likewise, urged the DOH to guarantee quality from the source, pointing to how the 7,500 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine had to be recalled from the Bicol region in March due to alleged mishandling.

While the DOH has since reported that the recalled vaccines in Albay were still in good condition and could still be used, there should be no more “close calls” especially as the bulk of vaccines are expected to arrive soon.

“The upcoming months will see an influx of vaccines whose quality should be ensured from source to destination. I really hope the DOH will take another look at its protocols and seek to leave no room for error during crunch time,” she said.

“Given the shortage of vaccines, these kind of mishandling are totally unacceptable,” Binay said.

“Gawin nang tuloy-tuloy seven days a week ang inoculation. Sayang ang panahon lalo pa ngayong maraming emerging epicenters ng COVID (Let’s conduct inoculation seven days a week. Let’s not waste time especially since there are emerging epicenters of COVID),” she appealed.