30 Thousand Doses Of Covovax Vaccine In Bengkulu Almost Expired

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu Provincial Health Office said around 30 thousand doses of the Covovax vaccine in the province had almost expired at the end of March.

Head of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Herwan Antoni, said that quite a number of Covovax vaccines were approaching their expiration date.

"Tens of thousands of Covovax vaccines expire at the end of March, because these vaccines are difficult to distribute," said Herwan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 29.

The Covovax vaccine cannot be used for the third dose (booster) vaccination and cannot be used at a certain age. In addition, the Covovax vaccine can only be used for the first and second doses, but cannot be used for vaccination of children.

"This makes it difficult to distribute the vaccine to the public, especially since the Bengkulu Provincial Government accepts that the vaccine is nearing its expiration date," he said.

In addition to the Covovax vaccine, there is also the AstraZaneca vaccine, which is nearing its expiration date, at the end of March 2022, but there are not too many of them, unlike the Covovax type.

Because the AstraZaneca vaccine has been distributed to districts and cities in Bengkulu Province, the stock in warehouses has run out.

The Health Office will collect the expired vaccines for storage at district and city level warehouses. While waiting for instructions from the central government regarding the destruction of expired vaccinations.