Metro Manila will need more storage room for Covid vaccines — DOH exec

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila, the epicenter of Covid-19 cases in the country, will need additional storage capacity for Covid-19 vaccines, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

DOH national immunization program manager Dr. Maria Wilda Silva said in an online briefing that this observation is based on a 2018 assessment regarding the capacity of local government units for vaccine management and storage.

“Kung tatanungin ang NCR [If we will look at data for the National Capital Region], the result from the 2018 assessment, they will be needing more capacity because the capacity is just enough for the routine [vaccines],” she said.

“Kasi kailangan din ‘yung other vaccines like our anti-rabies vaccines [Anti-rabies vaccines are also needed]. That is already part of the equation. So for NCR, we will be needing more storage capacity if we are talking about Covid-19 vaccines,” she added.

Silva also said that the cold storage capacity for vaccines is “not similar” across the country. “Some regions have excess capacity. Some have just enough,” she noted.

“I am talking about routine vaccines and some still need the additional capacity. For local government units, the answer [on storage capacity] is depende sa LGU. Because some will be needing additional capacity on top of the routine [vaccines] as well as on top of the catch-up,” she added.

In December, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government plans to put up four cold storage rooms and two walk-in freezers in Metro Manila, which will be the central hub of Covid-19 vaccines.

JPV

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