HEALTH officials said the first batch of Influeza A (H1N1) vaccines will be coming in early January next year.

However, supplies may last for only two months, and by then, the next batch may have to be bought, said Dr. Susana Madarieta of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 office.

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Madarieta, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, revealed that Region 7, particularly Cebu and Bohol, will be in the priority list for supply distribution.

However, based on a mandate of the World Health Organization (WHO), health workers, such as nurses and doctors, will be the first to get the vaccine being front-liners of the health sector, said Madarieta.

Priorities

Along with health workers, immuno-compromising patients and those with pre-existing conditions, pregnant women, children and people included in the 18-25 age groups will also be priorities.

Madarieta said the DOH Central office in Manila has passed the news on the arrival of the vaccines after hearing reports that some countries, particularly those critically affected by the swine flu outbreak, are now availing themselves of the vaccines

Instruction

However, Madarieta said the DOH central office has not issued any advisory as to how the vaccines will be properly used, but the advisory may arrive next year.

Reports said the flu in Central Visayas is moving relatively slow with 272 confirmed cases reported since May this year.

About 576 cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) were recorded, but no fatalities were recorded.

Health officials in the region have reported that while Cebu is recovering from the swine flu outbreak, Bohol had recently experienced its own form of outbreak when three towns in the province were hit.

But Bohol has now recovered after the help of concerned agencies.