DOH eyes monkeypox vaccine supply from WHO

Metro Manila, July 26 ------ The Department of Health hopes to get its supply of vaccines against monkeypox through donations from the World Health Organization or other development partners.

“Tayo po ngayon ay exploring possibilities kung pwede tayong makakuha kahit donasyon coming from WHO (World Health Organization) or our other development partners,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters. The health official said the U.S. Food and Drug administration has certified the use of smallpox vaccine against monkeypox, but that “stocks are very limited to just specific countries.”

On July 23, the WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. While the DOH assured preparedness against the infection, with the inter-agency committee on zoonotic diseases starting preparations since May, Vergeire said intensified surveillance should be implemented as it is vital in preventing transmission in communities. She said authorities already met with hospitals and other health facilities to brief them about identifying suspected monkeypox cases, while capacity building for laboratories has also been conducted to detect the infection. Administering vaccines will also be easier since there are existing guidelines as to the most vulnerable group to catch monkeypox, Vergeire said. For now, preventive measures should be put in place to keep monkeypox from entering the country while there is no vaccine supply, she noted.

The Philippines has not recorded any case of monkeypox yet, but it has been detected in 74 other countries, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: cnnphilippines.com