Gov’t to put up 4 cold storage rooms in NCR for COVID-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to put up four cold storage rooms and two walk-in freezers for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

“Sa ngayon ang ating plano ay magkaroon tayo ng apat na cold storage rooms at dalawang walk-in freezers sa Metro Manila because this will be the central hub of all vaccines,” Vergeire said in a virtual media forum.

(Right now, we plan to have four cold storage rooms and two walk-in freezers in Metro Manila because this will be the central hub of all vaccines.)

The government also plans to establish cold chain hubs in strategic areas in the country where the vaccines will be delivered before it will be distributed to other facilities.

Vergeire said Bicol, Cebu, and Zamboanga are being eyed as areas where the cold chain hubs will be set up.

She added that the DOH is looking at other areas where the hubs will be located. “But definitely the central hub would be here in Metro Manila,” she said.

According to Vergeire, the government is currently in talks with the private sector for assistance in the establishment of cold storage facilities across the country.

The DOH is looking at equipping each region with a cold storage facility for COVID-19 vaccines.

/MUF