NATIONAL COVID-19 VACCINATION OPERATIONS CENTER

Philippine International Convention Center, Vicente St., Pasay City, Metro Manila

08 September 2021

ADVISORY NO. 85
Philippine COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Vaccination Campaign

Guidance on the Implementation of the Vaccine Contingency Plan During

Emergencies, Disasters and Other Crisis Situations

This Advisory is issued to direct all Regional/Local Vaccination Operation Centers

(R/LVOCs), Implementing Units and Vaccination Sites to ensure the integrity of COVID-19
vaccines in the event of natural disasters and calamities in the country.

In light of typhoons and other calamities in the country which may lead to power outages
and postponement of vaccination activities, the NVOC reiterates the importance of ramping up
the vaccination and consuming the vaccines immediately.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is mandating all RVOCs, LVOCs,
Implementing Units and Vaccination Sites to:

Vaccination Roll-out:

1. Once with power outage, immediately notify the RVOC / Center for Health Development
(CHD) and get the approval to administer the COVID-19 vaccines in the shortest available
time.
2. Immediately administer the remaining COVID-19 vaccines (including those reserved for
2nd dose) to all individuals 18 years old and above regardless of the priority group within
2-3 days. Coordinate with the RVOC on second dose requirements of your area.
3. Conduct physical inspection of the vaccines prior to administration.
4. Ensure the safety and security of the vaccination sites, team members and vaccinees.

Cold Chain Management:

A. Before the typhoon enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

1. Review the existing Vaccine Deployment Continuity Plan ensuring the inclusion
of the following:
a. Orient all staff especially the non-medical/non-health maintenance staff,
security guards, general services staff) on the storage and maintenance of
the cold chain of COVID-19 vaccines.
b. Establish arrangement with at least one alternative storage facility (e.g.
hospital, commercial pharmacies) with continuous electricity for possible
storage of vaccines, even if with generator/s as backup equipment.
c. Ensure that the back-up generator is available and functional. Keep
sufficient fuel on hand to continuously run the generator for at least 72
hours. Generators should be tested quarterly and serviced annually.
d. Utilize the Checklist for Cold Chain (See Annex A).
B. In areas affected by on-going power interruption:

1. Coordinate with the electric company/cooperative to determine the duration of the

power interruption.
2. Continue regular monitoring of the functionality of vaccination sites, presence of
power interruption and status of cold chain.
3. Check hold over time of the vaccine refrigerator/freezer and check whether the
temperature monitoring device is well-functioning.
4. For areas with back-up generators, switch on the generator and connect the vaccine
refrigerator/freezer immediately.
5. For areas without generators and still with high inventory of COVID-19 vaccines:
a. If power failure is less than 24 hours, check the vaccine refrigerator
temperature only once and do not open the refrigerator/freezer until power
is restored.
b. For those using domestic/bio refrigerators and the power interruption is
within 24-48 hours:
i. With transport and shipper boxes:
1. Transfer the vaccines to the transport box or shipper box
with adequate conditioned ice packs until power is restored.
ii. Without transport and shipper boxes:
1. Transfer all vaccines to the nearest health facility, the
provinces, city, district with cold chain storage and/or
functional generator.
c. For those using Chest Type Vaccine refrigerators and the power
interruption is within 24-48 hours:
i. May store in the vaccine refrigerator up to 48 hours. Check the
vaccine refrigerator temperature only once and do not open the
refrigerator/freezer until the power is restored.
d. If power interruption is more than 48 hours, transfer all vaccines to the
nearest health facility, the province, city, district with cold chain storage
and/or functional generator.
6. When the electricity supply to the refrigerator/freezer is restored:
a. Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the power source.
b. Record the time and temperature of the refrigerator/freezer when the
electricity supply is restored.
c. When the temperature in the refrigerator is at +8C, in the freezer -5C, in
the ultra low freezer at -60C, then it is now safe to return the vaccines in
the refrigerator/freezer in situations where vaccines were transferred to the
vaccine transport boxes.
d. Do not return the thawed vaccines to the freezer. If thawed, store at
+2 to +8C refrigerator.

7. In case of temperature excursion:

a. Immediately notify your supervisor and/or vaccine coordinator.
Quarantine the affected vaccines and put a label “DO NOT USE.” Keep
exposed vaccines separated from the rest and continue to store them at the
recommended temperature.
 b. Document the details of the excursion and prepare an Incident Report
immediately.
c. Do not discard vaccines that have been exposed to increased or fluctuating
temperatures. Contact your cold chain manager and get guidance to
determine the vaccine viability.
8. Continue regular monitoring of the status of the vaccine refrigerator/freezer.

All RVOCs, LVOCs and Implementing Units are instructed to ensure the
implementation of this Advisory. For any issues and concerns related to this Advisory, you may
email to c19vaccineopcen@gmail.com.

This Advisory is effective immediately, and for wide dissemination and compliance.

MYRNA C. CABOTAJE, MD, MPH, CESO III

Chair, National Vaccination Operations Center
Undersecretary of Health, Field Implementation and Coordination
Team Department of the Health
Annex A. Cold Chain Vaccine and Logistics Management Reporting Tool
Annex B. Temperature Requirement and Shelf Life of Vaccines