Up to 31.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country are going to waste, Senator Pia Cayetano said on Thursday's plenary deliberation of the DOH budget.
Up to 31.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country are going to waste, Senator Pia Cayetano said on Thursday's plenary deliberation of the Department of Health budget.
"I have to emphasize 'estimated' because even the DOH does not know the cost because this was procured through an NDA . So based on an estimate of P500 per dose, it is...the cost is P15.6 billion," Cayetano said. In response, Cayetano said the WHO had found out that in low-income, middle-income and even the high-income countries' wastage rate went up to 30%, prompting the body to set the acceptable rate for wasted vaccine doses to 25%.
"Nakakalungkot lang na sa tatlong buwang pagitang yon, tumaas pa sa 12 percent kahit pasok parin sa 25% ceiling ng WHO...Nadagdagan pa ng 11 milyong doses na nasayang pa three months later...nadagdagan pa ng mga P5.3 billion in estimated wastage cost," she said. Hontiveros stressed the need for proper monitoring of vaccines amid the limited fiscal space of the government.
Although the figures that Hontiveros mentioned are correct, Cayetano said it would be more fair if several factors would be considered such as donated vaccines which are nearing expiration that go to DOH's inventory, vaccine hesitancy, among others.NDAs
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DOH ready to coordinate in Covid-19 vax auditThe Department of Health (DOH) expressed its readiness to coordinate with authorities to audit the purchase of vaccines in relation to the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program.
Read more »
DOH logs 810 new COVID-19 infections; active cases down to 18,824MANILA, Philippines — An additional 810 infections of COVID-19 were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, with active cases down to 18,824. With this, the
Read more »
DOH seeking P27 billion for health workers’ Covid-19 emergency allowanceThe Department of Health (DOH) is requesting an additional P27 billion for the provision of health emergency allowance (HEA) for medical workers.
Read more »
DOH uncertain if COVID-19 nearing endemicityMaria Rosario Vergeire, officer in charge of the DOH, said that she could not confidently declare that COVID-19 was nearing endemicity in the country, citing waning population immunity due to low booster coverage and subvariants. | kdevillaINQ /PDI
Read more »
DBM asks DOH to submit addt’l documents for P27-B health worker’s COVID-19 allowanceThe Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday said there are still available funds which can be tapped to cover the release of about P27 billion requested by the Department of Health (DOH) for healthcare workers’ COVID-19 response allowance.
Read more »