AMID pertussis outbreaks, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday warned of outbreaks of diseases covered by pentavalent (5 in 1) vaccines, if the public is not vaccinated.
The pentavalent vaccines offer protection from diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenzae Type B., aside from pertussis or whooping cough.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a press conference said the pentavalent vaccines offer herd immunity from all the five illnesses if enough children are vaccinated.
“If many are not covered, are not vaccinated, they can easily transmit the disease and cause outbreaks,” said Herbosa.
“If many are not protected (from pertussis), there can really be a lot of cases… there could also be (outbreaks) of the other diseases in the pentavalent vaccine,” he also said.
Latest DOH records show 1,112 pertussis cases from January 1 to March 30.
The DOH has ordered increased efforts to provide the public with pentavalent vaccines amid the surge in pertussis cases this year.
Supplies of pentavalent vaccines are expected to last until next month but these may run out if more local governments declare pertussis outbreaks.
Herbosa said the DOH have secured three million doses of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) vaccines.
He said DPT will be used while the DOH awaits the arrival of 6 million pentavalent doses expected by July.
“These DPT doses will help fill the shortage this May and June,” he said.
