Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA) - At least 10,280 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine have expired in Kendari city, Southeast Sulawesi, a health official said.
"The AstraZeneca vaccine that has expired since February 2022 reached 10,280 doses," head of the Kendari City Health Office, Rahminingrum, informed in Kendari on Thursday.
The vaccines are being kept at a warehouse, she said.
The expired vaccines comprise 50 doses kept at the health office, 20 doses at public health service posts (Puskesmas), 1,720 doses at Bhayangkara Police Hospital, 2,870 doses at Ismoyo Hospital, 3,560 doses at Kendari city police's clinic, and 2,060 doses at the naval base's clinic.
Rahminingrum attributed the high number of expired vaccines to oversupply from the central government. The vaccines were only allocated to the Indonesia military and police.
"When the Astrazeneca vaccines were distributed, their number was quite large. In fact, the vaccines were originally used for Indonesian military and police (personnel),” she said.
The health office reported the expiry of the vaccines to the central government through the Smile application, she said. However, it has not received directives for their destruction.
"We have reported the handling of expired vaccines through applications. Physically, the expired vaccines have been separated from active vaccines," she disclosed.
She said the AstraZeneca vaccines are currently the only ones that have expired in Kendari city, while COVID-19 vaccines of other brands remain active and can be administered to humans.
The active vaccines comprise 6,688 doses of the Sinovac vaccine and 3,072 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, she added.
Baca juga: Dinkes sebut sebanyak10.280 dosis vaksin Astrazeneca di Kendari kedaluwarsa