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DOH gives vaccination sites until March 24 to administer AstraZeneca vaccines

Philippines | National

DOH gives vaccination sites until March 24 to administer AstraZeneca vaccines

By Leslie Ann Aquino

The Department of Health (DOH) said vaccination sites have until March 24 to administer the AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

(Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP / FILE PHOTO)

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Secretary Francisco Duque III set the deadline for the Astrazeneca vaccines so that those unused can be brought to areas with a high number of cases.

"The Secretary has already given a deadline. If they are not used up by March 24, we will be taking them for the meantime," she said in a virtual forum on Monday, March 22.

Vergeire added that this is to give the vaccines to as many healthcare workers.

She explained that the said vaccines should not be stored for a long time and should be used as intended to protect the healthcare workers.

"They have to do this expeditiously, especially now that the cases are rising," Vergeire said.

The DOH official also assured that additional doses are forthcoming.

"We have talked to the World Health Organization (WHO) and they gave us assurances that the second batch of AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX will arrive by the end of March or in early April," Vergeire said.

The Philippines already received a total donation of 1,125,600 COVID-19 Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots from the Chinese government and the COVAX Facility, respectively.

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