The city of Manila is now ready for the arrival of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines after its storage facility has been completed with the delivery of the remaining biomedical freezers that can store Pfizer vaccines at -70 degrees.
The city government now has a total of 12 Covid-19 ultra-low temperature (ULT) refrigeration units.
The last three freezers were delivered on Tuesday at the Sta. Ana Hospital where the city’s’ vaccine storage facility is located.
Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said the city now can meet all types of required temperatures for the proper storage of Covid-19 vaccines.
“So, lahat ng vaccines meron na tayong ref and storage facility sa Manila (We now have all the types of refrigerators at our storage facility in Manila),” Domagoso said.
Sta. Ana Hospital biomedical specialist Walter Rigonan said the city government’s 12 Covid-19 vaccine freezers will be able to accommodate the following:
— two units of -10 to -25 freezer: 5,200 vials each
— two units of -10 to -30 freezer: 17,2000 vials each
— three units of -70 freezer: 35,000 vials each
— five units of 2-8 degrees freezer: 8,200 vials each
Domagoso, in a meeting with officials of the Manila Health Department (MHD) and the management of the Sta. Ana Hospital, discussed the city’s’ plans for the mass vaccination drive.
“That is a reflection of every life that we can protect. May buhay na nakasalalay sa bawat bakunang hawak natin (A life depends on every vial of vaccine that we have). The efficiency and the value of the product lie in your hands. Protect the product,” Domagoso told Sta. Ana Hospital director Grace Padilla.
Padilla said Sta. Ana Hospital is all systems go to receive the vaccines and that the facility is secured.
She added that the storage facility is equipped with 11 CCTV cameras working 24/7.
Moreover, the hospital has a backup generator for the vaccine storage facility in case a power interruption occurs.
“This is to ensure the security of the vaccines tapos sa ating mga refrigerations mayroon tayong tinatawag na data logger, sila yung magmo-monitor ng temperature ng each ref (and for our refrigeration, we have a data logger which will monitor the temperature of each ref),” Padilla said.
Padilla said the data loggers will make sure that the refrigeration freezer’s temperature is stable and will not fluctuate to ensure the viability and efficacy of the vaccines.
Domagoso told hospital personnel to be cautious and prudent at all times, as he stressed the sensitivity of vaccines to any change in temperature. (PNA)
