RESUMPTION of the distribution of anti-rabies vaccines for humans remains uncertain because supply remains low and production has been constrained by lack of raw materials and contamination problems, an official from City Health Office said.
CHO Technical Office staff Julinda Acosta said during the I-Speak media forum Thursday, April 12, that the shortage of rabies vaccine is still being experienced in the city.
“As of the moment we still have shortage of rabies vaccine for humans. In fact, this week although we received 100 vials of rabies vaccine, it is not enough, so we ask everyone to practice preventive measures,” she said.
When bitten, she said each person needs an average of three vials of vaccine as well asa fourth booster shot if the dog dies after 14 days.
Acosta said this means that less than 50 people can avail of the 100 vials.
She urged the public to avoid being bitten by their pet dogs and cats as well as to avail of free animal anti-rabies vaccination in their barangays.
Acosta said they received a memorandum explaining the reasons for the delay in the delivery of Rabipur and Vevorub vaccines by manufacturers GSK India and Sanofi Pasteur, respectively.
“Ang Vevorub manufactured by Sanofi, sabi nila kakulangan sa raw material, with regards naman sa Rabipur which was manufactured sa GSK India. We received memorandum that the Rabipur delivered to China was contaminated with bacteria the reason why its production was stopped, and also caused the shortage. There will be a delay in the delivery of Rabipur in the Philippines because of that finding,” she said.
(Sanofi said they lack raw materials to make Vevorub. Production of Rabipur was stopped after a shipment delivered to China was found to have been contaminated.)
Acosta said GSK India and Sanofi are the only manufacturers of the vaccines.
“It is a worldwide shortage,” she said.