DUE to the low supply of anti-rabies vaccines globally, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 urged animal bite treatment centers and local government units (LGUs) to procure anti-rabies vaccines that are still available in the market.
The DOH 7 made the request following the suspension of the procurement of Rabipur by the World Health Organization.
Without any anti-rabies vaccine in DOH 7’s supply, Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas said they are asking bite centers and the LGUs to procure non-WHO pre-qualified vaccines, but only if these are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration and included in the dossier of recommended anti-rabies vaccines of the DOH.
Bernadas said he is concerned that the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines would lead to a spike in the number of animal and canine bite cases.
Last year, the number of animal bite cases in the region reached 92,769 while the number of documented human rabies cases was 21, Bernadas said.
In 2016, only 59,773 animal bite cases and eight documented human rabies were recorded.
Bernadas urged animal bite patients who are seeking treatment in government facilities to purchase a part of the treatment regimen while the DOH and the LGU are still procuring their own supplies.
At present, the director said there is no longer any anti-rabies vaccine available in their cold chain unit at the DOH 7.
Bernadas also reminded the LGUs and the bite centers on the need to enhance and strengthen their information, education and communication programs to remind the public on responsible pet ownership.
He also asked provincial, city and municipal veterinarians and agricultural offices to conduct massive dog vaccination and rabies control in their localities.
Following the suspension of the procurement of Rabipur by the WHO, a sudden increase in the demand for anti-rabies vaccines also caused a disruption in the supply of Verorab, another WHO-prequalified vaccine. (JKV)