BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cordillera urged local government units (LGUs) here on Wednesday to properly handle and store vaccines to avoid unnecessary wastage, an official said.
“Avoiding wastage of Covid-19 vaccines is critical because we do not want to lose our fight against Covid-19 due to negligence, which is why we must work together to ensure the unhindered and timely distribution of vaccines,” said Araceli San Jose, DILG-CAR Regional Director.
She urged LGUs to take all available measures to ensure that vials are not damaged during transportation, that proper temperature is maintained while storing the vaccine, and that a temperature log is kept so that any deviations are quickly noticed and corrective measures are taken.
She also stated that local chief executives (LCEs) should provide more attention to facilities located in remote areas, which are more likely to experience vaccine storage issues.
In addition, all LCEs are directed to act on reports of, and ensure accountability for the negligence of employees/personnel responsible for the vaccine wastage.
Furthermore, LGUs are urged to begin immunization as soon as Covid-19 vaccines arrive in their respective communities to avoid wastage due to expiration or spoilage.
