Health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed that the Philippines is planning to donate its unused Covid-19 vaccines that are nearing their expiration date to countries with low supply of vaccines.
“‘Yung hindi magagamit at malapit nang mag-expire ang desisyon diyan ay idonate sa mga bansang mababa ang vaccine coverage,” Duque said during a virtual briefing.
Myanmar and Cambodia as well as some African countries are the possible recipients of the donated vaccines, Duque added.
“Maganda naman yang layunin na yan para makatulong din tayo sa mga kapatid na mula sa ibang bansa na namamayagpag pa rin ang Covid-19 pero ang supply ng bakuna ay kulang na kulang,” he said.
The health chief said they don’t yet have the total number of vaccines to be given and there was also no mention of which brands will be donated.
He added that some AstraZeneca vaccines close to expiry had their shelf lives extended by three months and that the government is awaiting the Food and Drug Administration’s approval. – Ronald Espartinez