9.75 million COVID-19 doses wasted, P3 billion unusedMANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Department of Health (DOH) over the “wastage” of COVID-19 vaccines totaling 9,751,301.50 doses and failure to utilize P3.056 billion in COVID-19 funds for 2022. The audit breakdown, however, showed that the bulk of wasted vaccines totaling 4,506,913 doses carried the brand AztraZeneca, followed by Moderna (1,718,887.50 doses), Janssen (1,034,638 doses), Pfizer-Adult (914,175 doses), Sinovac (719,207 doses), Pfizer-Pedia (426,430 doses), Sputnik I (309,721 doses), Sputnik II (107,866 doses), Gamaleya II (12,991 doses), Sinopharm (453 doses) and Gamaleya I (20 doses). Found responsible for the bulk of wasted vaccines or 3,729,701.50 doses was Metro Manila, followed by Central Luzon with 3,560,173 doses; Eastern Visayas, 1,671,878 doses; Caraga, 786,647 doses and Ilocos region with 2,902 doses. The COA noted that of the P37.507-billion COVID-19 funds of the DOH, 91.85 percent or P34.451 billion was obligated as of yearend. Of the obligated amount, 87.94 percent or P30.297 billion was actually disbursed, leaving unpaid obligations of P4.155 billion.
