MANILA, April 4 ------ Pertussis or whooping cough usually hits infants, but it can also affect children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly, a pediatric infectious disease expert said.
Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, professor and chief of the Philippine General Hospital's (PGH) Division of Infectious and Tropical Disease in Pediatrics, explained that while babies are the common victims of pertussis, the older population must also do its best to help prevent the illness. "Isipin mo iyong epekto na lang ng ubo ka nang ubo to the point na hindi ka halos makahinga. Siguro kung adult, mas kaya mong habulin iyon. Pero ang sanggol, anong nagiging epekto? Iyong pagkawala ng oxygen sa utak, iyong pagtigil ng paghinga, na eventually nagiging cause ng kanilang pagkamatay," she told ABS-CBN News. "So smaller infants have more severe disease; older individuals have, I would say, moderate to severe disease, or even mild disease na mas kinakaya ng katawan nila (that their bodies can still handle)," she added.
This is also the reason why all age groups must be vaccinated against pertussis. Babies should receive three doses at the 6th, 10th, and 14th week, Ong-Lim said. The "recommended schedule" should be followed by a booster when the baby turns 1 year, then at 4 years old, plus a booster every 10 years. She also recommends vaccination for pregnant women. "Paano nga ngayon iyong mga younger than 6 weeks? Kaya natin inirerekomenda pati sa mga buntis na sila ay mabakunahan kasi kung pregnant sila at vaccinated sila, doon sa unang 6 weeks ng buhay ng baby na hindi pa siya pwedeng bakunahan, nakatanggap naman siya ng protection galing sa kanyang mommy," she said.
But Health Sec. Ted Herbosa said the proposal needs to go through a process before being implemented. "Ang problema, hindi pa namin ma-implement iyan sa DOH kasi iyong DTAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) kailangan pang ipa-recommend. dadaan muna sa National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. Pero sa private available iyan, magbabayad ka lang," Herbosa said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo on Wednesday. Ong-Lim said for children, adults, and senior citizens who do not know if they have been vaccinated against pertussis, they can still get their shots because there is no such thing as "overdose" in vaccines - but this is usually done in private clinics and out of pocket.
Booster shots are also unavailable in public health centers, whose free vaccines mostly cater to infants. "Actually, itong formulation na nasa health centers, hindi na natin pwedeng ibigay sa mga tumatanda pa doon. Hindi kasi magiging mabisa at, typically, nagkakaroon din ng mas matitinding local site reactions tulad ng pamamaga, pamumula na medyo iniinda rin ng pasyente," she explained. "Pero sana dahil nakita na nga natin kung gaano kalaki itong problema na ito, magkaroon ng re-evaluation kung pwede nga bang isama sa programa," Ong-Lim added.
The Department of Health (DOH) said "there is a way" for children, adolescents, adults, and pregnant women to get free booster shots against pertussis, starting "with analysis based on available data". "In a situation with limited resources, the DOH is choosing to protect the most vulnerable first, and is open to exploring ways to make access to the vaccines easier for the other population groups," the agency said in a statement.
The Health department is also anticipating the arrival of 3 million doses of vaccine. "Originally, ang sinabi namin na (our original) timeline was looking at at least 1 million by June. But we are looking forward to fast tracking... Kung mapadating natin ito nang mas maaga, mas mabuti," DOH assistant secretary Albert Domingo said.
Health centers are also encouraging parents to bring their babies to health centers to get their pertussis and other routine vaccines. "Marami po nagpapabakuna sa amin every day... Bumababa rin po kami sa barangays para magpabakuna," shared Amalia Del Mundo, nurse-in-charge at Manila's Esperanza Health Center. "Napakahalaga po na mabigyan ng proteksyon ang mga bata para sa vaccine-preventable diseases," she added.
Doctors remind the public that pertussis can be prevented through vaccination, avoiding those who are sick, wearing of face masks especially in crowded areas, handwashing, and getting enough rest to boost one's immune system. Ong-Lim stressed that vaccinating the older population is as important as getting shots for infants and children. "Iyong babies na hindi pa natin pwedeng bakunahan, ang proteksyon nila manggagaling sa ibang members ng household na protektado... Kung ang individual ay protektado, mas maliit ang tsansa na mahawa siya at manghawa pa ng iba... Sana i-review ng bawat household kung sino-sino ang qualified, sino na ang behind para magpagpabakuna ulit," she said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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