WHO to distribute 9 million doses of vaccine to combat A (H1N1) in RP
BACOLOD CITY – Millions of vaccine doses against influenza A (H1N1) are to be distributed by the World Health Organization in the Philippines to help combat the expected resurgence of the ailment that has already killed 33 persons in the country this year.
Of the nine million vaccine doses committed by the WHO to the country, around 1.2 million vaccine doses are expected to be delivered later this month, Doctor Troy Gepte, WHO country representative, said on Thursday.
Gepte also said that identified risk groups will be given the priority on this mass vaccination against influenza A (H1N1).
He added that the coming in of persons, particularly those who came from cold countries where there are reports of recurrence of the H1N1 cases like the United States and Ukraine, could result for the resurgence of H1N1 cases in the country.
“(And) we are preparing for it,” Gepte, who is also the technical officer of the communicable disease surveillance and response of the WHO, said.
The WHO official said that they aim to reduce the morbidity and mortality as well as the transmission of the pandemic virus within the communities.
The donation of the WHO is on top of the plan of the Department of Health to procure vaccine doses worth P100 million within the year and another P200 million worth of vaccines sometime next year.
The Philippines was one of the countries in the world where there were high cases of H1N1. The Department of Health reported that as of October this year, there were over 5,000 H1N1 cases all throughout the country with 33 confirmed deaths.
The WHO reported that as of November 22, about 622, 482 persons were afflicted with the influenza A all over the world with 7, 826 deaths.
In Eastern Visayas, one person died due to H1N1 with about 300 confirmed H1N1 cases.
Gepte, who was among the resource speakers of the Department of Health sponsored two-day media forum held in Bacolod City which ended last Thursday focusing on the “emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases,” said that the so-called second wave of the H1N1 could occur in the country in the next three to four months.
Gepte said that the WHO has committed to donate to the country around nine million doses of vaccines with the first shipment, expected later this month, of 1.2 million vaccine doses.
According to him, the nine million doses of vaccines will be enough to vaccinate 10 percent of the estimated 90 million Filipinos.
The vaccination will be done by the Department of Health with the so-called risk groups to be prioritized.
The priority groups include health personnel or frontline responders, pregnant women, person not less than six months old but not less than 60 years old and persons above five years old but not more than 60 years old with underlying chronic medical condition and all other healthy individuals.
The mass vaccination will be done in fixed stations like rural health centers and on voluntary basis, Gepte said.
By JOEY A. GABIETA
Read More on Leyte Samar Daily Express
- Report: Tackle overlooked threat of hepatitis B, C
- DOH prepares for 2nd wave of H1N1 virus
- DOH urges LGUs to conduct massive clean-up drive to avert dengue cases rise
- City gov’t to upgrade City hospital
- Tagay tuba tasting event to break Guinness Record on Sunday
