DOH to administer vaccines vs monkeypox using compassionate permit

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday assured the public that it would be administering smallpox vaccines against monkeypox through a compassionate special permit (CSP) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

DOH assistant spokesperson Usec. Beverly Ho said this in a media briefing after clarifying that the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA cannot be used as a tool for other vaccines.

“EUA in the law and EO (Executive Order) actually only provides for the COVID-19 vaccine, so hindi natin magagamit ‘yung (so we cannot use the) EUA as a tool for other vaccines,” said Ho.

Meanwhile, Ho said that DOH also could not request a certificate of product registration as it would take too long.

“So our route now is that when we receive the vaccine it will really be through CSE, compassionate special permit, that FDA will be issuing for a limited amount of time.” said Ho.

“So once we get the donations we can use it as soon as possible,” she added.

Apart from this, Ho also explained that according to the DOH’s current practice guidelines, supportive therapy is the main treatment modality against monkeypox.

“The patients who may have monkeypox ‘yung (our) primary management natin is (is to) support it, we basically relive their symptoms and make sure they don’t go to a much worse condition,” said Ho.

Monkeypox is a type of viral infection common in West and Central Africa, similar to smallpox.

Ho said the DOH is now in “constant communication with its counterparts, particularly the United States Agency for International Development,” in procuring medicines and vaccines for monkeypox.

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JPV/abc