DOH warns of pentavalent vaccine shortage due to pertussis outbreak

Updated Thu, April 11, 2024 at 2:47 PM Published Mon, April 8, 2024 at 6:02 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) anticipates a shortage in the government's pentavalent vaccine supply by May due to an ongoing pertussis outbreak and delayed deliveries.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated that the country's current stock of pentavalent vaccines, which protect against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B, is running low.

Six million doses of pentavalent vaccine are expected to arrive in July, creating a supply gap in May and June.

To address this, DOH is seeking to procure Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccines as an alternative, although its certificate of product registration has expired.

Antibiotics will also be stocked in hospitals to treat pertussis cases.

Nationwide, 1,112 pertussis cases have been recorded from January 1 to March 30, 2024, with 54 deaths, mostly among children under five years old.

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