PH to donate vaccines close to expiry to other countries

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10) — The Philippines plans to donate unused COVID-19 vaccines that are close to expiry to countries that have low supply, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III disclosed Thursday.

"'Yung hindi magagamit at malapit nang mag-expire ang desisyon diyan ay idonate sa mga bansang mababa ang vaccine coverage," Duque said at the Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: The decision on unused doses which are close to expiry will be donated to countries that have low vaccine coverage.]

Duque added the vaccines could be donated to Myanmar and Cambodia as well as some countries in Africa.

"Maganda naman yang layunin na yan para makatulong din tayo sa mga kapatid na mula sa ibang bansa na namamayagpag pa rin ang COVID-19 pero ang supply ng bakuna ay kulang na kulang," he said.

[Translation: That will be good because it could help other countries which have a high COVID-19 rate but low vaccine supply.]

However, Duque said there was no definite number of vaccines yet and there was also no mention of which brands were being considered for the donations.

The health secretary also said some AstraZeneca vaccines close to expiry had their shelf lives extended by three months, and the government is now waiting for the Food and Drug Administration's approval