A total of 12,970 vaccine doses were wasted or were not used since the beginning of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said vaccine wastage was due to issues on temperature or storage, transportation, and labeling.
“Mayroong nagkaroon ng sunog sa Cotabato at saka doon sa Ilocos Norte dati kung saan ang ilang bakuna natin ay nadamay sa pagkasunog,” the official said in an online forum.
“Mayroon tayong nabalitaan noon na mayroong mga nagkaroon ng wastage dahil doon sa transport,” she added.
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said more than 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the country, of which 51 million have been administered.
Vergeire said some vaccines were also discarded due to the presence of particulate matters.
“Doon sa ilalim ng bakuna, may nagse-settle na particulate matters. Kapag ganoon ang itsura ng bakuna, hindi na natin ‘yan ginagamit,” she said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- bny
