THE government is planning to donate excess vaccine doses to other countries, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
On Thursday, Duque said countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and some African countries will benefit for the vaccine doses the country is donating as the current supply, according to health department, is “stable.”
During a Laging Handa briefing, Duque said the country’s vaccine stockpile has continuously increased since October 2021, and with some doses nearing expiration, the government decided to give away supplies to countries with low vaccination coverage.
“‘Yung hindi magagamit at malapit nang mag-expire, ang desisyon diyan ay i-donate sa mga bansang mababa ang vaccine coverage. Maganda naman ‘yang layunin na ‘yan para makatulong din tayo sa mga kapatid natin mula sa ibang bansa na namamayagpag pa din ang COVID-19 pero ang suplay ng bakuna ay kulang na kulang,” he said.
“Tinitingnan ‘yung Myanmar, Cambodia, at ilang bansa sa Africa. Pero kung ilan ‘yung bakunang mado-donate, ‘yan pa ay binubuo pa ng ating National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC),” he added.
Duque added that AstraZeneca has extended to three months the shelf life of its near-expiry vaccine doses, but are subject to the approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Doon sa malapit nang mag-expire, ay na-extend naman, magandang balita. Pumayag naman ang AstraZeneca pero ang FDA na lang ang hinihintay natin para ma-aprubahan ‘yung kanilang extension ng shelf life by three months,” Duque said.
However, he pointed out that AstraZeneca vaccine doses that are about to expire will remain in the Philippines and will no longer be donated should the FDA approve the extension of their shelf life.
