The National Vaccine Operations Center (NVOC) on Monday (Sept. 13) assured that no COVID-19 vaccines were affected during the onslaught of typhoons #JolinaPH and #KikoPH.
In the Laging Handa public briefing, NVOC fellow Dr. Kezia Rosario said they have not received any reports of COVID-19 vaccines that were ruined in the typhoon-hit areas, nor were any cold storage facilities affected. She added that the vaccines were properly and safely stored.
She explained, “As of our information now po, wala po tayong nasirang bakuna dahil sa bagyo or na-affected iyong mga cold chain storage natin dahil sa bagyo. So, lahat ng bakuna natin during the time of the bagyo were safe po at na-store po siya properly at hindi po tayo nagkaroon ng excursion sa temperature nito.”
According to the World Health Organization Model Guidance, a temperature excursion is an event “in which a temperature sensitive pharmaceutical product is exposed to temperatures outside the range(s) prescribed for storage and/or transport.”
She emphasized that the vaccines in the affected areas are effective and can be used.
“So they are still effective and pwede po pa siyang ibigay sa mga vaccinees natin,” she said.
In relation to this, Rosario reported that 19 municipalities in Region 5 stopped their vaccination rollout “for a certain time” on Sept. 7 while 49 municipalities stopped in Region 8 during typhoon Jolina.
“However, one day lang po or two days, around September 7 and September 8 lang po ito, and then bumalik naman agad iyong mga vaccination activities natin without any casualties po doon sa mga bakuna natin,” she assured.
For typhoon Kiko, Rosario reported the vaccination suspension of three municipalities in Cagayan Valley.
“And then for Bagyong Kiko for Region II, we have certain municipalities in Cagayan Valley that are affected. So we have three municipalities that stopped their vaccination, and as well as in the Batanes. We do not have any updates pa po kung ilan iyong municipalities ng Batanes.”
She added that the vaccination activities immediately resumed following their suspension.
Report from Patrick de Jesus/NGS- jlo
