HEALTH
DOH set to lead COVID-19
vaccine task force
by Laniel Arive
Posted on December 12, 2020
The Department of Health (DOH) will lead the task force that will ensure the successful and efficient deployment of COVID-19 vaccines to the target population, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Laging Handa public briefing last October 30.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease created the “COVID-19 Immunization Program Management Organization Structure” in line with the country’s preparation for vaccine distribution.
In the recent public briefing, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said that the Philippines is among the priority recipients of COVID-19 vaccines being developed in China so the government must be ready to receive them.
Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash
“Distribution will be a challenge even when we are on the priority list,” Sta. Romana stated.
Meanwhile, Sta. Romana identified cold chain storage as one of the facilities that the country needs to provide for the vaccines to be safely stored and deployed.
“Vaccines have to be stored in freezing conditions, otherwise, if they are exposed to tropical weather, they could lose their effectiveness,” Sta. Romana said.
Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Dr. Eric Domingo explained that cold storage facilities would be really challenging especially in remote areas where electric power sources are not stable.
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado, however, affirmed that the country will allot enough budget for the cold chain facilities that are necessary for safe vaccine distribution and storage. #