In a bid to tackle the surge in pertussis cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said that it will provide pentavalent or 5-in-1 vaccines to “vulnerable populations,” including children aged five and up, adolescents, adults, and pregnant women.

"In a situation with limited resources, the DOH is choosing to protect the most vulnerable first, and is open to exploring ways to make access to the vaccines easier for the other population groups," DOH Assistant Secretary and Deputy Spokesperson Albert Domingo told reporters in a Viber message on Monday, April 1.

Highlighting the strategy behind the vaccination drive, he underscored the prioritization of the youngest demographic, starting as early as six weeks of age.

Domingo mentioned that the initiative will utilize a multi-purpose or “pentavalent vaccine,” offering comprehensive protection against Pertussis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza B.

Meanwhile, he noted that as of March 16, there have been 568 recorded cases of pertussis, with varying distributions across different age groups.

Among the findings, children aged one to four years old accounted for 67 cases, while those aged five to nine and 10 to 19 years old reported 65 and 24 cases respectively.

Adults aged 20 to 59 years old recorded 16 cases, with individuals aged 60 years and above registering only one case.

Domingo added that “395 are below one-year-old in age.”