MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 vaccines carried in a boat that capsized in Quezon province are still usable, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said Saturday.
“Naimbestigahan na natin ‘yan and apparently ito palang mga bakana ay naka-double na pagpa-plastic so hindi sila nagalaw,” Vergeire said during the Laging Handa briefing.
“Atin ding chi-neck ‘yung potency at maaari pa po siyang gamitin,” the health department official added.
According to the report from the Quezon provincial police, the vaccines were loaded into an outrigger boat bound for Polillo Island, where the towns of Polillo and Burdeos are located.
The boat carrying the vaccine doses, however, hit an old concrete post at the port in Barangay Ungos around 7:30 a.m.
The accident caused the boat to sink. However, some passengers and a team of policemen and DOH personnel, who were escorting the medical cargo immediately transferred the vaccines to another boat bound for the island.