It is said that there is a possibility that the Philippines will no longer receive free vaccines from the COVAX facility if it is proven that there was negligence in the wasted COVID-19 vaccines that have expired.
This is according to Dr. Maricar Limpin, immediate past president of the Philippine College of Physicians, at the same time as expressing support for the proposed investigation by some lawmakers on the leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) regarding the issue.
“’Yong COVAX, sila po ang nagdo-donate tapos malalaman nila na wasted lang ‘yung mga bakuna na ibinigay,” said Limpin.
It is said that government officials need to have transparency and accountability when it is proven that there has been negligence. The investigation will also make it possible to know more about other problems facing the country’s vaccination program.
Earlier, former Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said that the private sector’s P5.1 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines has expired because the DOH’s guidelines for distributing the second booster were too late.
“Kahit na sabihin nating the funds came from the private sector – let us presume – but alam mo ‘yong perang ‘yon, pinaghirapan din ‘yon ng private sector,” said Limpin.
Philippines may not receive free vaccines
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has already announced that the department is ready to face the investigation. The country’s vaccine wastage also falls within the 10 percent threshold the World Health Organization set.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros wants the Senate to investigate the estimated P5 billion to P13 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the government that was allegedly unused and expired.
In the press conference, the senator said that she would file a resolution to investigate what she called the “large-scale” wastage of COVID-19 vaccines, which he said should not be tolerated.
Based on the reports, Hontiveros said that between April and July, between four million and 24 million vaccines had not been used and expired.
The cost of the said COVID-19 vaccine is said to be in the range of P5 billion to P13 billion.
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