Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said vials of Covid-19 vaccines cannot be kept as “souvenirs,” citing his own experience.
“Hinihingi ko kung puwede kong maging savings yung vial. Talagang istrikto sila. Hindi pwede raw kasi ire-reverse logistics nila ‘yon at ia-account po nila ‘yon,” he said in a Dobol B interview.
The Department of Health (DOH) would make sure that all vials would be disposed of, Galvez said.
“Very strict ang ating DOH… Babasagin po yan at idi-dispose nang maayos,” he said.
Galvez said the disposal method would ensure that the vials would not be used to contain fake Covid-19 vaccines.
“Once hindi po natin nasunod ang disposal process, magagamit po ‘yung mga vials. Malalagyan po ng mga liquid ‘yan. Magkakaroon po tayo ng mga tinatawag na pilferages at saka tinatawag nating malpractices, na magkakaroon tayo ng fake vaccines,” he said.
The Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 vaccines states that personnel assigned as vaccinators should “dispose of syringe and vials accordingly.”
At the end of each vaccination day, all vials (unopened, fully or partially used) are to be returned to the facility of origin for recording. John Ezekiel J. Hirro