- Senate panel sees volume of expired Covid-19 vaccines reaching over 60M
With lesser people availing of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is certain that the number of volume of expired vaccines would have reached over 60 million.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon panel, made this assessment during the continuation of the committee’s hearing on the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) surrounding the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
Tolentino pointed out the low vaccination turnout especially in the provinces contributed to this scale. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported that the Covid-19 vaccines that have been wasted was at 44 million.
But Tolentino took into account the Covid-19 vaccines that are also about to expire in March and September.
Also included in the 60 million are the vaccines that have been “quarantined” because the DOH is still waiting for the manufacturers’ decision and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval if they can extend the shelf life of the shots.
“We are doing all things possible to be able to ramp up the vaccination (program),” DOH Acting Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told the committee during the hearing when asked what the agency is doing to solve the situation.
Tolentino, however, lamented that there now seems to be “no urgency” on the part of the DOH to conduct a public information drive on the government’s inoculation program.
“Ayaw na nila (the people do not like it anymore) kasi parang walang sense of urgency. Hindi na kayo nakikita (you are no longer visible),” the lawmaker pointed out.
Vergeire also pointed out that the DOH started an initiative to donate the unused vaccines but no other countries wanted to accept expiring vaccines.
She said the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) negotiation with Myanmar and four other countries did not push through: “none of these countries accepted expiring vaccines.”
Tolentino said his committee will recommend that a bond be included during contract preparation to cover the cost of disposal of unused vaccines.
“There should be a bond in order to protect the environment, and also whether we can return or donate to other countries who are in need,” he said.
During the hearing, Tolentino announced the termination of the blue ribbon committee’s probe saying his panel will come out with policies that would benefit the people.
But he urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to have a reference to environmental harm that can be caused by a product purchased. He also asked the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to come out with a provision concerning possible environmental degradation as to the products purchased and disposed of by the government.
“I think we have explored the nitty-gritty and the continuing nuances concerning the wastage, the 44 million (doses of expired vaccines) that would probably balloon into a bigger amount. I hope that the lessons learned here will be implemented,” he said.
Tolentino said the panel will come up with a committee report as soon as they receive the OSG’s position paper.