Following the decline in cases of Pertussis (Tagalog: Tusperina or Ubong Dalahit) observed starting last May to June, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that 500,000 doses of DPT-Hep B-HiB or Pentavalent vaccine arrived and are now in cold storage.
Paperwork is being finalized prior to their distribution to government health centers nationwide.
“President Marcos Jr. told me not to stop once cases are down, but to ensure that vaccination continues.”
“President Marcos Jr. told me not to stop once cases are down, but to ensure that vaccination continues – routine this time – to ensure that a spike of Pertussis will not happen again,” Secretary Ted Herbosa explained.
Despite the lower number of new cases per week for almost two months now (around 50 cases per week) compared to around 300 cases per week last April, the DOH continues to deliver on its promise to follow-through with routine vaccination of infants and children.
Case trends are still low (131 cases from July 7-20; 77 cases from July 21 to August 3; 19 cases from August 4 to 17), with only four regions reporting an increase in the past six weeks from August 17: Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, Western Visayas, and Davao Region.
The total number of cases nationwide from the start of the year is 3,827 as of August 17, a figure that is around 13 times more than the 291 cases reported in the same period last year.
Bulk of the cases were recorded during the months of March and April, when the DOH went into outbreak response immunization mode.
“The contracted supplier has started delivery of the Pentavalent vaccines that will protect young Filipinos starting six weeks of age.”
“The contracted supplier has started delivery of the Pentavalent vaccines that will protect young Filipinos starting six weeks of age. DOH will ensure that all the ordered doses will get to government health centers at the soonest,” Herbosa added.
Another 750,000 doses of Pentavalent vaccines are set to arrive.
The health chief has instructed the relevant DOH units to ensure that the balance of doses are delivered asap.
The DOH expresses its gratitude to all the Local Government Units for their efforts in combating pertussis and measles cases nationwide.
Through focused vaccination campaigns and community engagements, the DOH controlled the spike in Pertussis cases.
