NegOcc races against time to dispose ‘expiring vaccines’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is racing against time in disposing more than 200,000 doses of assorted brands of COVID-19 vaccine that will expire by end of April 2022.

This, as the capitol noted that the number of Negrenses availing of vaccines are getting fewer.

Dr.  Claudelia Josefa Pabillo, officer in charge of provincial government cold storage facility, said the vaccines are set to expire by the end of April this year.

But Pabillo said the 36,720 doses of Pfizer with orange caps being used in pediatrics vaccination have already been allocated for the second dose of children 5 to 11 years old and are expected to be fully used by end-April.

Other near expiry vaccines include Janssen (140,539 doses), Astra Zeneca (38,900 doses), and Moderna (4,890 doses), according to Pabillo.

Pabillo some that some of the COVID-19 vaccines have already been distributed to local government units (LGUs), who requested for the doses.

The problem is that only a handful of expected clients showed up at the vaccination sites, she added.

“This led to the non-utilization of the vaccines intended for them,” Pabillo further said.

At the same, she also observed that there appears to be hesitancy in accepting the AstraZeneca vaccines because of misconceptions.

“The near expiry vaccines are being given priority in the distribution to LGUs, so that it cannot be wasted,” she added.

The low vaccination turnout for senior citizens was also noted in Negros Occidental, which prompted the provincial government to give incentives to entice them to avail of vaccination.

Pabillo said that administering of booster shots, as well as first and second doses, is ongoing in the different LGUs and even in government hospitals.

Pabillo confirmed the arrival of more doses of Pfizer vaccine intended for pediatrics inoculation, either within a week, or early next week.

Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz on Wednesday said that the slow vaccination is not being experienced in Negros Occidental, but all over the country, after the saturation point has been reached.

Those left are people who do not intend to be vaccinated because of religious beliefs, or not believing in the vaccines.

On the other hand, Diaz said teams of vaccinators have already been deployed in the barangays by the provincial government to help various LGUs in their vaccination campaign.

As of March 30, Negros Occidental recorded 65.02 percent of the 80 percent targeted Negrense population who have already been vaccinated.