MANILA – The wastage of Covid-19 vaccine due to Typhoon Odette’s onslaught remains “negligible”, according to vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday.
Following the arrival of over two million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine at the NAIA Terminal 1, Galvez said typhoon-affected areas particularly in Siargao and Cebu City have resumed their vaccination drives as the damaged Covid-19 vaccines due to “Odette” reached 4,120 doses.
“Siargao, even immediately after–a day after–natatakot sila na masira yung vaccine, they already inoculated a lot. Sa Cebu, sinabi nga ng isang doktor, bagyo lang ito, tuloy tuloy ang pagba-bakuna natin (they were afraid of wasting the vaccine, they have inoculated a lot. In Cebu, a doctor said, ‘this is just a typhoon, our vaccination continues’),” Galvez said.
He stated that vaccine wastage could increase as they await additional data from Tandag City in Surigao del Sur.
“Areas that were badly hit have suffered long shortage of energy—particularly in Cebu, Palawan, Caraga region, in Leyte, and other areas. As reported today, Cebu still has 50 percent capacity in terms of its electrification,” Galvez said.
He attributed the relatively low wastage to the efforts of local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police.
“The AFP issued the directive to the different unified commands to take care of the vaccines and they provided the needed gas for the generators,” Galvez said.
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