Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa highlighted the “critical need” for vaccination against pertussis, which is a “preventable” disease.

“Of the 394 pertussis cases, 70 percent of these were unvaccinated; maraming cases ay hindi nabakunahan kaya nagkakaroon ng pertussis (Many cases were not vaccinated, so pertussis occurs),” Herbosa said during a press conference on Thursday, April 11.

"The surge in pertussis cases underscores the urgency of vaccination," he said in Filipino. "We administer the pentavalent vaccine to children aged five months to five years, providing crucial protection against this contagious illness."

Herbosa highlighted the effectiveness of vaccination, noting that many local government units (LGUs) recorded zero or minimal cases of pertussis last year due to comprehensive vaccination efforts.

However, he warned of a concerning trend: as overall case numbers decline, the proportion of unvaccinated children increases, leading to a resurgence in pertussis infections.

"Tragically, most of the pertussis cases we're seeing affect young children, including infants below six months," Herbosa said.

"This underscores the importance of timely vaccination, as the pentavalent vaccine offers protection against multiple diseases, including pertussis,” he added.

The gravity of the situation was further highlighted by statistics shared by Herbosa, revealing that from January to March alone, the DOH recorded 1,112 pertussis cases, resulting in 54 fatalities.

"These deaths are entirely preventable," he said, pointing out that approximately 70 percent of pertussis patients require hospitalization.

Meanwhile, Region IV-A emerged as a hotspot for pertussis cases, with 233 reported instances.

He attributed the higher case fatality rate of six percent in this region to the severity of the outbreak.

Herbosa also disclosed that several regions, including Eastern Visayas, Region VII, Cagayan Valley, CARAGA, Northern Mindanao, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, have reported pertussis cases in recent weeks, with seven percent of affected individuals being under five years old.

"We must prioritize vaccinating these vulnerable children," Herbosa urged, emphasizing the critical role of vaccination in preventing further spread and unnecessary fatalities.