By Aura Sison

As of February 2023, the Department of Health (DOH) has hired a third-party logistics firm for the disposal of 44 million expired vaccines through pyrolysis or burning. 

Millions of wasted COVID-19 vaccines will be destroyed via pyrolysis, or high-temperature decomposition, although its ashes’ disposal remain uncertain and cannot be specified by representatives from DOH during the public hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino on Tuesday, Feb. 21. 

To resolve the issue, he then invited the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the next public hearing to share information on the disposal of the ashes. 

Given that certain COVID-19 vaccines were either “protein-based” or included inactivated virus, Tolentino mentioned the potential “deleterious effects” of improperly scrapping the wasted vaccine doses. 

Due to the potential risk to public health and safety, he requested that the DOH brainstorm on a proper disposal method for the millions of expired doses of purchased and donated COVID-19 vaccines across the nation. 

The estimated 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines included 6.7 million doses scrapped due to errors in handling and 24.6 million doses left unused past their expiration date. 

Thumbnail from Philippine Star