Private sector can loan to gov’t expiring vaccines: DOH

MANILA – The private sector can loan to the national government unused coronavirus vaccines that are expiring to avoid wastage of the life-saving shots, a health official said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a policy on loaning had been signed, allowing the private sector to enter into such arrangement with the national government.

“Kung meron silang pinanghahawakan na mga bakuna na near expiry na, pwede nila ‘yan i-loan sa government. Magkakaroon lang ng agreement at pag dumating na ‘yung panahon na kailangan na nila, papalitan po natin para lang ‘di masayang ‘yung bakuna na hawak nila (If they have vaccines that are nearing expiration, they can loan it to the government. The vaccines would be replaced when the time comes that they would need it),” she added.

Through the loan policy, the national government was able to collect 356,000 doses of US-made Moderna vaccine from the private sector.

These doses, Vergeire said, have been distributed to Region 4-A (Calabarzon) and Region 3 (Central Luzon).

Earlier, some infectious diseases specialists recommended that the government use the near expiry shots procured by the private sector as boosters or additional doses to healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, warning these could just go to waste if unused.