As the nationwide vaccination program continues, the local government of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental assured that vaccine-related wastes, like syringes, needles, and used vials are properly disposed of and segregated from the regular garbage.
Engineer Loreto Sanchez, city environment and natural resources officer, said that Covid-19 vaccine wastes should be handled appropriately to avoid contaminating the environment since they might contain pathogens or viruses, and to prevent irresponsible individuals from reusing those.
Marietta Lomocso, IEC team leader of the CEMO, said the collection and disposal of these wastes follow the guidelines set by the Department of Health on the management of healthcare wastes generated from Covid-19 vaccination, under Memo No. 2021-0031, a press release from the city said.
HAZARDOUS WASTES
She added that needles and syringes placed in a safety collector box are disinfected and weighed before being disposed of in a concrete vault for hazardous wastes in the city’s sanitary landfill while empty vaccine vials are disinfected, weighed, labeled, placed in a sealed bag, and turned over to the City Health Office.
Nurse Merlie Franco of the CHO, and Emergency Operations Center Vaccine Cluster Cold Chain and Logistics team leader, said that used vaccine vials will be handed over to the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office for proper accounting and inventory. Christopher Rey Atilano, CEMO IEC member, said that collectors wear PPEs to assure their safety during vaccine-related waste collection at designated vaccination areas, like in the community rehabilitation facility, Barangay I covered court, and at the San Carlos Doctors’ Hospital, up to the disposal of wastes.*
