The Department of Health is confident that they will be able to inject AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines, which arrived in the country this past weekend, to those in the priority sector, before they expire.
AstraZeneca vaccines that arrive in the country from the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization are scheduled to expire in June or July.
According to the government, the rate will be increased to 70,000 people per day to be vaccinated, from 100,000 to 200,000 per day so that more people will be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Maidya-jab natin iyong 1.5 million hanggang end of June for the second dose ng AstraZeneca at saka iyong first dose na remaining, and then may July tayo na 500,000,” said Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje.
The Department of Health clarified that the AstraZeneca vaccine still cannot be given to economic frontliners, amid calls to speed up vaccination of the population to pursue herd immunity.
Former presidential adviser Dr. Tony Leachon previously called on the government to include economic frontliners in today’s vaccination to speed up the vaccination drive.
DOH confident AstraZeneca vaccines will be used before expiry date
For now, only those in the A1, A2, and A3 sectors are allowed to get vaccinated.
Leachon warned that vaccines will expire due to the slow vaccination in the country.
According to Cabotaje, the newly arrived vaccines were donated by the COVAX facility. That is, it is only for those in the A1 to A3 category or health workers, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities.
“Gusto nating sabihin na ang AstraZeneca ay galing sa COVAX. Ang priority po ng COVAX ay A1, A2 at A3. So hindi po natin pwedeng ibigay sa ibang areas,” said Cabotaje.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said that all AstraZeneca vaccines should be used immediately to prevent their expiration and wastage.
“We will make sure nothing will expire. All the jabs will be used for inoculating our A1 to complete all the healthcare workers, the A2, senior citizens, and the adults with co-morbidities,” said Duque.
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