21K COVID-19 Vaccines Wasted in Regions Ravaged by ‘Odette’

Typhoon Odette apparently not only caused destruction of homes, infrastructure, and lives, but also 21,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).

This comes as Health Undersecretary and NVOC chair Myrna Cabotaje said during a Laging Handa briefing that they have received reports of vaccine wastage from Iloilo, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga, which are Odette-ravaged regions.

“As of the moment, about 21,000 po ang officially reported to us na hindi na magamit. (are officially reported to us that can no longer be used),” Cabotaje said.

However, Cabotaje said that a number of local government units in Mimaropa, Southern Leyte, Iloilo have resumed vaccinations in their respective jurisdictions.

Southern Palawan has also continued their vaccination efforts.

Areas that have not reached their optimal vaccination capacity are Western Visayas at a 70 to 75 percent capacity along with the regions of Caraga, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands which have not returned to their optimal inoculation capacity.

Meanwhile, Cabotaje said that a total of 146 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have already been deployed.

“We have a total of 210 million vaccine doses that have arrived, procured ng national government, procured ng lokal na pamahalaan, procured ng ating private sector, tapos iyong mga donation. (Procured by the national government, local government units, the private sector, and donations),” she said.

“We have deployed 146 million,” Cabotaje further added. (GFB)