DOH: COVID-19 vaccine wastage only at less than 2 percent

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire talks with reporters via Zoom meeting in this file photo taken on April 23, 2020. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — Only less than two percent of over 244 million COVID-19 vaccines that were delivered in the country are considered wastage, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said these are vaccines that have expired, contaminated, or were damaged by calamities.

“This is lower than the 10 percent that the WHO (World Health Organization) has given as a standard for vaccine wastage all over the globe,” she said in an online press briefing.

Meanwhile, the DOH is still awaiting the vaccine manufacturers’ approval for the extension of shelf life for some vaccine doses.

“We cannot give an accurate number right now as to how much will be expiring in April, May, June, or the other months to come,” said Vergeire, noting that they are still awaiting the approval of the extension in order to give exact figures.

Based on DOH data, more than 67.3 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 12.7 million have already received booster shots as of April 21.

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