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'Running low': DOH expects shortage in gov't pentavalent vaccine supply by May

Philippines | National

'Running low': DOH expects shortage in gov't pentavalent vaccine supply by May

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

By next month, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is expecting a shortage in the government's pentavalent vaccine supply amid the increasing cases of pertussis in the country.

(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

“We anticipate a shortage in the government's pentavalent vaccine supply by May, and this is the gap we are now addressing,” said DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 9.

According to the DOH, the national government's stocks of pentavalent ("5-in-1") vaccine, reported at 64,400 doses as of last March 25 are "running low."

Despite the rising cases of pertussis, also known as "ubong dalahit" or "tusperina" in Filipino, the DOH assured the public that outbreak response immunization is "underway."

The DOH mentioned that Secretary Herbosa has ordered other options such as Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccines to prevent gaps while waiting for the new three million pentavalent vaccines.

Meanwhile, the DOH assured that the Philippine market continues to have stocks of pentavalent and Tdap vaccines in the private sector.

“We will have another type of vaccine, the DTP – Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis,” Herbosa explained.

He added that pentavalent and Tdap vaccines are available in the private sector, so there is "no physical shortage."

Meanwhile, Herbosa welcomed any offers of support and assistance from private sector partners concerning the vaccines.

RELATED STORY:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/9/on-the-rise-doh-records-1-112-cases-pertussis-cases

Related Tags

Teodoro Herbosa pertussis outbreak DOH vaccines vaccines DOH

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