DOH: COVAX offering to replace expiring donated vaccines

FILE PHOTO: The word “COVID-19” is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration taken November 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — The World Health Organization-led COVAX facility has offered to replace the COVID-19 vaccines it donated should they expire before being used, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, who is the head of the National Vaccination Operations Center, said there is enough supply of vaccines until the end of the year amid reports of vaccines nearing their expiration.

“There is enough supply until the end of the year. Given that there will be some hesitancy, we will not have everybody fully covered because there are still the proverbial anti-vaxxers. They will not receive any vaccine,” Cabotaje said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“There is an offer from the COVAX that should we have any vaccines that are going to expire that are donated by COVAX, they can replace them,” she added.

Cabotaje continued: “We have enough supply and we hope to put it to good use before they expire.”

“Of course, the problem is always the last mile. We have already vaccinated 67 million so reaching the one-third of the population is really a difficult task,” she added.

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier said that some P40 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines may be wasted due to low immunization turnout.

Based on government data, 12.6 million Filipinos have so far received their third anti-coronavirus vaccine dose or booster shot.

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