Zuellig Pharma Corporation, a leading healthcare services provider in Asia, said its cold chain facilities will ensure proper handling of the first batch of Moderna doses that arrived in the country.
Zuellig was authorized by Moderna as its emergency use authorization holder for its COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines.
The Moderna doses will be stored in Zuellig's pharma-grade cold-chain facility in Paranaque City 1 and will be delivered using its passive packaging system—the eZCooler solution, that ensures the integrity of temperature-sensitive vaccines during the last mile of transportation.
“Through the concerted efforts of the national government and the ICTSI Foundation, the arrival of the
newly-procured COVID-19 vaccine Moderna allows access for both private and public sectors. Together with the national government, the ICTSI Foundation, and Moderna, Zuellig Pharma Corporation bolsters its commitment in making healthcare more accessible to the communities
we serve, helping Filipinos access these vaccines through effective, secure, and sustainable cold-storage facilities,” said Maikel Kuijpers, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Zuellig Pharma Corporation Philippines.
“The arrival of the initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Moderna is good news as we endeavor to reach population protection in the Philippines,” said Jeff Folland, General Manager of ZP Therapeutics Philippines.
“We are committed to utilise our deep knowledge and expertise in the country’s healthcare ecosystem, and work in close partnership with the national government, to help protect Filipinos from COVID-19,” Folland added.
The Moderna vials are required to be stored in a freezer between -25 degrees Celsius and -15 degrees Celsius.
“Our -15 to -25 °C walk-in freezers can hold up to 12 million doses. We also have 20 ultra-cold freezers with -80 to -70 °C temperature range that have the capacity to store up to 4.7 million doses, ensuring shelf life for the procured vaccines is maximized,” said Jannette Jakosalem, Chief Business Officer of Zuellig Pharma Corporation Philippines.
Moderna has been approved for emergency use in the United States, Canada, Israel, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, Qatar, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Paraguay, Japan, and South Korea.