RP sets anti-A(H1N1) immunization campaign
Friday, April 9, 2010
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FLILIPINOS will soon have access to the anti-influenza A(H1N1) vaccines as the health department scheduled April 26 to be the country’s first immunization campaign.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral confirmed this to Sun.Star after the government secured the first batch of 1.9 million doses of vaccine that arrived last March 28 from the World Health Organization (WHO).
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“Available vaccines are 1.9 million doses. The health department will prioritize pregnant women, children and the elderly as well as frontline health workers. April 26 sounds right but it could be little earlier in some areas,” she said in a text message.
Cabral however failed to comment on which specific areas the initial vaccination will take place.
The initial batch is the first out of five tranches to complete the nine million doses promised by the WHO to be shipped into the country.
Cabral said the government got the doses for free and is currently stored at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
“Vaccines will be distributed to regional offices starting next week,” she said.
She added that health workers in public and private hospitals should be given priority because they are “considered the frontline soldiers” in preventing the spread of the virus.
Earlier, the health department said the vaccines could be stored for about a year and a half.
Quezon City gets first shots
But even before the health department embarks its first immunization campaign, a Filipino-owned, international dealer of vaccines, have already launched its parallel program Wednesday night in Quezon City.
In a briefing, Glovax Philippines together with its medical team gave anti-swine flu shots to media and community leaders of the bustling city.
Glovax Philippines President Giovanni Alingog said their company has already pre-ordered and secured 2 million doses of anti-A(H1N1) vaccines due to be distributed this month.
“The additional supply will complement government’s efforts to keep the Philippines A(H1N1) free, using massive education efforts, school-to-school temperature readings, hand washing campaigns, strict travel quarantine measures and immunization plans,” he said in a statement.
Alingog said it is timely for the country to conduct vaccination measures in preparation for the rainy season from June to October.
He added that more than 40 countries have already undertaken immunization campaigns in a bid to tame the spread of the new flu strain.
The company said the vaccine can be requested from private physicians, and will be administered on a first-come-first-served basis. Individuals can already reserve a shot through their doctors or through vaccination clinics such as VAXCEN.
In a separate interview, Alingog said an anti-A (H1N1) shot costs a hefty P1,500.
Meanwhile, the health department said it has recorded 14 A(H1N1) cases in February despite the onset of a dry weather season.
The Philippines tallied around 3,000 cases of A(H1N1) last year but only one death was reported. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
