WASTED. A Covid-19 vaccination area in Makilala, North Cotabato. The town’s vaccination program for senior citizens has been halted due to the spoilage of 348 doses of the Coronavac vaccine owing to negligence, it was reported Friday (May 14, 2021). Local health officials said they were investigating the incident. (Photo courtesy of Makilala LGU)
COTABATO CITY – The 348 Coronavac doses left in a freezer without electricity for more than two days in Makilala, North Cotabato, have been damaged and are no longer usable for vaccination.
Dr. Philbert Malaluan, speaking for North Cotabato’s inter-agency task force (IATF) addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), said Friday the Department of Health (DOH) 12 (Soccsksargen) has confirmed that the vaccines could no longer be used.
Makilala municipal health officer Dr. Gina Sorilla said the vaccines were intended for senior citizens.
Lito Cañedo, Makilala IATF spokesperson, said the vaccines were kept at the municipal health office’s freezer and were supposed to be used for vulnerable sectors on May 10.
However, a power outage occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on May 7.
“Due to the power outage, the health workers and the police in charge of securing the vaccines decided to transfer the vials to the freezer of the Makilala police office,” Cañedo said, adding that the freezer at the police station was powered by a generator set during the duration of the brownout.
He said the power supply from the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) was restored at about 2 p.m. on May 7 but nobody managed to switch the power supply to the Cotelco source after the generator was shut down.
Cañedo said municipal office workers, including health personnel, left at 3 p.m. as part of health protocols and for workplace disinfection.
“So, nobody noticed on Friday that the freezer was not switched backed to regular power supply,” he said.
He added that there was no work during the weekend and “it was only on Monday morning (May 10) that it was discovered by the personnel in charge from the town health office.”
Cañedo said an investigation on the incident is in progress. (PNA)
