By Ana Rufa Padua

Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac) announced the temporary suspension of Pfizer second dose vaccinations at Festival Mall due to a problem with their storage facility on July 15, 2021.

According to the statement published by MunCoVac on their Facebook page, there was a change of temperature in their storage facility which could affect the efficacy and quality of the Pfizer vaccines stored in it.

“Based on our initial investigation, there was a change in the temperature, which may affect the quality of the vaccines. We decided not to use the vaccines. It’s better to be safe,” the statement said.

Festival Mall is currently the only Muntinlupa vaccination site affected, the local officials are still verifying how many Pfizer doses will be discarded.

The second dose vaccination using Pfizer was to be held from July 14 to 17, though the people who were at the vaccination site were informed that they would be rescheduled for inoculation.

“The MunCoVac team is currently sending text messages and please wait for the notice of your new schedule,” said MunCoVac. “We assure that those affected will be vaccinated, especially those who were scheduled for second dose. According to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (Advisory 62), you can receive the second dose three to six months after the first dose,” added MunCoVac. 

According to the Emergency Use Authorization, the Pfizer vaccines must be stored at temperatures ranging from minus 80 to minus 60 degrees Celsius before dilution.

As of July 12, MunCoVac has administered a total of 223,246 doses of vaccine and 70,536 citizens have been completely inoculated with the second dose.

REFERENCES

CNN Philippines Staff. (2021, July 15). Pfizer vaccines in danger of going to waste due to storage woes in Alabang mall. CNN. cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/7/15/Pfizer-vaccine-waste-Festival-Mall-Alabang-Muntinlupa.html?fbclid=IwAR0APn5-oHEYAId5kwSKbOwEn3B1nTH6tU10JN-zFPfOZQfIcLviipgwZ_U

Hicap, J. (2021, July 15). Muntinlupa suspends Pfizer vaccination at Festival Mall site due to storage problem. Manila Bulletin. mb.com.ph/2021/07/15/muntinlupa-suspends-pfizer-vaccination-at-festival-mall-site-due-to-storage-problem/

Muncovac. (2021, July 15). MAHALAGANG PAUNAWA. Facebook. www.facebook.com/MunCoVac/photos/a.101625315461236/123614056595695/

Photo Source: Muntinlupa PIO