Dutch to destroy 800,000 unused coronavirus vaccines

Over 800,000 corona virus vaccines ordered for donation by the Dutch government will be destroyed because they are not needed, health minister Ernst Kuipers has told MPs.

‘Many countries have indicated they have enough vaccines to cope with national demand for the foreseeable future,’ Kuipers said.

COVAX, the global vaccine distribution system set up by the United Nations, is hard put to find a destination for vaccines that are surplus to requirement, particularly those with a short shelf life, Kuipers said.

Although there has been relatively little waste of vaccines until now, the minister said, more vaccines may not find recipient countries and may have to be destroyed.

‘In order to avoid waste we will continue to look for possibilities to donate vaccines bilaterally,’ Kuipers said.

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