1 million pertussis vaccines to arrive in PH by June–DOH

DOH Spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag addresses the media about the pertussis outbreak at the News Forum in Quezon City on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Around one million doses of pertussis vaccines are expected to arrive in the country by June, Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Eric Tayag said Saturday.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a “highly contagious” bacterial respiratory infection with symptoms such as mild fever, colds, and coughs appearing seven to 10 days after exposure.

The disease can be treated with antibiotics and prevented through vaccination.

During the Saturday News Forum, Tayag revealed that between 800,000 and one million doses are expected to arrive by mid-year.

“We don’t have a percentage, but what’s in our inventory has been provided by the DOH to Quezon City, consisting of 1,500 doses, which they can utilize while awaiting the new supply, which might arrive in June,” he said when asked about the current stock of pertussis vaccines.

Last Thursday, the Quezon City government declared a pertussis outbreak after logging 23 cases of the bacterial disease since the start of 2024.

As of March 9, Tayag said there were 167 pertussis cases and 35 deaths nationwide, with most of them recorded in Metro Manila, followed by Calabarzon and Central Visayas.