THE Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that about two million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 are set to expire if it remains unusesd by June 30, 2022.
However, DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje clarified that they can determine the exact number of vaccines that are set to expire by end of May.
“For the expiring vaccines, we will have the final numbers by end of May. But up to June we are expecting if not administered, almost 2 million if unused by end of June,” Cabotaje said.
Despite this, Cabotaje said the expiring COVID-19 vaccines can still be replaced.
“Ito ‘yung parang pang palit, ‘yung nag-expire na at saka ‘yung pwede pa, at mga pa-expire, which includes brands such as Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer,” adds Cabotaje.
“From the communication we received from COVAX, replacement for vaccine includes vaccines from all sources, so not just those coming from them, but they will also consider some of the vaccines that have been procured by the national government, even our private sector, and our local government,” she explained.
Cabotaje also said that there are now more than 73.7 million Filipinos who have been jabbed by at least one dose of COVID-19 while 69.1 million are already fully vaccinated.
The health official said an estimated 200,000 individuals are being vaccinated daily.
Second booster dose
Cabotaje also informed that there are now 36,000 frontline healthcare workers and about 83,000 senior citizens were already given their second booster dose.
“Our total with regard to the second booster is 171,000. Naglalaro lang tayo sa mga less than 50 pero tumaas na ang tinaas nuong binuksan natin sa A1 at saka sa ating senior,” she added.
The DOH earlier announced that the second booster dose will strengthen the defense against COVID-19 even against the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1, where there are already 17 confirmed cases in the country.