By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora / Philippine News Agency
None of the country’s Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are contaminated, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed Saturday (Aug. 28).
This came after Japan suspended the use of about 1.63 million doses of the American-made vaccines after detecting “foreign substances” in some of its vials.
“Here in the Philippines, we inspect lahat po ng batches ng bakuna bago natin gamitin at wala tayong nakitang ganyang kontaminasyon sa mga na-deliver na Moderna,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in the Laging Handa briefing.
Vergeire also assured that the government has strict protocols to ensure that all vaccine shipments are intact and safe for use.
Japan’s Health Ministry earlier said the suspension was a precautionary measure and that Moderna is now conducting an investigation into the presence of the “foreign substances.”
The 1.63 million doses were reportedly produced in the “same production line at the same time in Spain.”
Japanese authorities said a portion of the doses distributed to 863 vaccination centers had already been used “but no health damages have been reported yet.” (PNA) – jlo
