The second dose of Pfizer vaccines was first stopped at a vaccination site in Muntinlupa after a problem with its cold storage.
According to the local government, the National COVID Vaccination Operations Center has been notified, and the cause is being investigated.
But according to Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro, the freezers are brand new and approved by the DOH.
The LGU has not yet said how many vaccines will be in the cold storage and is still investigating whether its quality has been affected.
“Para hong nag-fluctuate ‘ata ang temperature during the period, so the city health office and the vaccine group decided to temporarily suspend the vaccination. Because we don’t want to compromise the health and safety of the people plus the efficacy of the vaccine,” said Navarro.
Meanwhile, the second batch of Moderna COVID vaccines (more than 250,800 doses) arrived in the Philippines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Here, the government purchased 194,400 doses or more than half, while 56,400 were purchased by private companies under a tripartite agreement.
According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, part of the Moderna vaccines purchased by the government will go to NCR Plus 10, while it is expected that on Friday, it will start bringing it to the LGU.
Vaccination in Muntinlupa suspended due to cold storage malfunction
“Mayroon tayong allocation plan… Some of it will go to the NCR Plus 10,” Duque said.
“‘Yung sa private kanila na ‘yan,” he added.
Duque also explained why more Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses are available to the government than the private sector.
“Mas maganda nga sa gobyerno mas malaki… Alalahanin ninyo naumpisahan na rin natin ang pagbabakuna sa kanila (mga manggagawa sa pribadong kumpanya), even prior to this arrival. I suppose the adjustments have already factored in the fact na nabigyan na rin natin sila, ‘yung mga private sector A4,” said Duque.
So far, about 500,400 doses or only 2.5 percent of the total 20 million COVID vaccine doses purchased by the government and private sector from Moderna have arrived in the Philippines.
A total of more than 22 million COVID vaccine doses have been delivered to the country.
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