Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — A lawmaker called for an investigation on reports of unused and expired COVID-19 vaccines.
Sought by Senator Risa Hontiveros through a resolution, the probe was in light of the alleged delayed decision of health authorities to expand the coverage of second booster shots, which, former Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier said, led to the expiration of over 4.2 million doses bought by the private sector worth P5.1 billion.
“Palaging inaanunsyo na ang dami-dami na nating bakuna, pero hindi naman sa procurement natatapos ang kwento. Baka naman may oversupply na tayo kaya may hindi nagagamit at nasasayang. Wag naman sanang ipangalandakan na dinaig pa nila si asyong aksaya. Dapat may managot dito,” the senator said.
[Translation: We always announce that we have a surplus of vaccines but the work doesn’t end in procuring these doses. Maybe we have an oversupply that’s why it’s going to waste. They shouldn’t be proud of this wastage. Someone has to be held liable.]
She said the Senate inquiry in aid of legislation aims to identify the cause of wastage and for the government to make ways to prevent it from happening again.
Members of the Health Department and Health Technology Assessment Council previously said they are not to blame for the vaccine expiry and noted other factors such as the low uptake of boosters shots.
