Department of Health Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire during the press conference on Nov. 4, 2022 at the DOH Central Office. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines — Some 44 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were wasted in the country, accounting for more than 17 percent of the total number of received jabs, the Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday.
“Now it is at 44 million based on our inventories,” Vergeire said of the vaccine wastage during a press briefing.
Vergeire said the 44 million is 17.5 percent out of all the COVID-19 vaccines the country has received. This was above that of the World Health Organization threshold of vaccine wastage at 10 percent.
She also noted that 75 percent of the vaccine wastage came from the procurement of private sector and local government units.
Also of the 44 million, 24 million doses expired while 3.8 million doses have been affected by “operational wastage.”
Vergeire said the operational wastage “is caused by natural disasters, temperature excursions, and discoloration.”
RELATED STORIES:
PH wasted 31.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, says Pia Cayetano
COVID vaccine wastage within acceptable limit – DOH