By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Adhering to the age-old dictum that “prevention is better than cure,” some three million vaccine doses against the highly contagious pertussis infection are arriving in the country soon.
This was disclosed by the Department of Health (DOH) as some areas in Metro Manila as well as in Iloilo City are seeing a rise in pertussis cases, with 453 cases of pertussis recorded in the first 10 weeks of the year and 35 persons so far have succumbed to the virus.
On Monday (25 March 2024), the DOH said that the country is already distributing some 64,400 pentavalent shots to children to fight the resurgence of pertussis, which is spread through respiratory droplets and could be life-threatening.
It was learned that the incoming vaccines, called pentavalent shots, also protect against other vaccine-preventable illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Hemophilus influenza type B.
Dr. Tony Leachon, a former government health adviser, has urged individuals in areas with high pertussis cases to wear face masks to stamp out the transmission.
DOH guidelines also suggest voluntary use of face coverings but it is “highly encouraged.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
