KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Through a private-public partnership, the Municipal Government of Polomolok in South Cotabato has recently acquired an ultra low temperature freezer (ULF) that can store about 105,000 doses of Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

The ULF, an Arctiko Integraline freezer, is capable of storing vaccines at down to -83 degrees Centigrade. It is currently stationed at the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital (HHMH).  

Pfizer BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine's  storage requirement is -80 to -60 degrees Centigrade. 

Mayor Honey Lumayag-Matti told Philippine Information Agency that she called a meeting  with stakeholders, including local government officials, private sector partners, civil society organizations, Dole Philippines, Mahintana Foundation, and cooperatives on July 23 to discuss how the LGU and its partners could respond to the need for storage facilities for the bulk of vaccines, including Pfizer BioNTech,  that the national government is expected to download to LGUs. 

"Dole Philippines offered to buy the ultra low temperature freezer," Mayor Matti said. "This was discussed on July 23; the ultra low temperature freezer, which can accommodate 105,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine, was delivered on July 30."

The freezer was estimated to cost around P1.2 million.

Dole Philippines initially sought to buy  20,000 vaccines for its employees but its procurement process was hindered since suppliers prioritized orders  from the national government. With the Philippine government receiving large volumes of vaccines, LGU Polomolok and its partners decided the best alternative would be  to prepare for the arrival and storage of the vaccines, Mayor Matti explained further. 

Besides the ULF, Dole Phil has also stationed a reefer van refrigerator at the HHMH for vaccines that need subzero storage such as Moderna  and Gamaleya Sputnik V. 

According to plan, the ULF at the Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital will serve as main storage facility for Pfizer BioNTech vaccine while LGU Polomolok's biomedical refrigerators will be used to keep the vaccines within cold storage protocols. at the vaccination sites. 

Polomolok has three vaccination sites, namely: Polomolok Municipal Gymnasium, Cannery Site Barangay Gymnasium, and Barangay Sulit Gymnasium that can accommodate a total of 1,800 to  2,000 vaccinees per day. 

LGU Polomolok has  tapped three private hospitals -- Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital, Bontuyan Medical Hospital Inc., and Heramil Hospital -- to set up their own vaccination sites, Mayor Matti said. 

The local government has also partnered with the DICT for use of the DICT Vaccination Administration System (DVAS) and partnered with businesses, companies, cooperatives and other partners for the master listing of would-be vaccinees. 

It also deployed vehicles that would transport residents, especially in remote villages to the vaccination sites and back to their barangays. 

"LGU Polomolok has put in place our vaccination plan. What is lacking are vaccine allocations. We appeal to the Department of Health 12 to help us secure more Pfizer vaccine allocations," Mayor Matti said.

In Soccsksargen Region, only Polomolok and Kidapawan City in North Cotabato have ULFs. 

According to  Kidapawan LGU, their ULF can accommodate up to 7,000 doses of vaccine. 

On Tuesday,  Mary Agnes Panton, nurse V of DOH- CHD XII,  and  Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., provincial health officer of South Cotabato  inspected the ULF at the HHMH. 

Panton said, DOH-CHD XII will report this development to the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) meeting Wednesday. 

Another  team from DOH-CHD XII is expected to conduct comprehensive inspection of the facility this week. (PIA)