QC acquires about P13 million worth of pertussis vaccines, antibiotics

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government announced on Tuesday that it has acquired approximately P13 million worth of pertussis vaccines and antibiotics.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte disclosed that the city bought over 3,500 vials of the 6-in-1 vaccine, 1,012 bottles of azithromycin, and 1,000 bottles of clarithromycin.

READ: Pertussis or whooping cough outbreak declared in Quezon City

These vaccines will be administered to children six weeks old and up who have yet to receive a vaccine for pertussis, she added.

“We have approved the purchase of needed vaccines and antibiotics so we can immediately provide the required medical attention to current cases and protect our QCitizens from further spread. We are planning to purchase more should the need arise, given that the national government has limited supply of the vaccines,” Belmonte said.

Aside from pertussis, she noted that the 6-in-1 vaccines would also shield children against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae, and Hepatitis B.

READ: PhilHealth: Severe pertussis patients may claim up to P90,000 coverage 

Azithromycin and clarithromycin, on the other hand, are antibiotics prescribed for pertussis patients.

”Pagdating na pagdating ng mga binili nating bakuna at gamot, agad natin itong ipinadala sa ating mga health center, lalo na sa mga lugar na mataas ang bilang ng pertussis,” the mayor said.

(As soon as the vaccines and medicines we bought arrive, we will immediately send them to our health centers, especially in areas with high numbers of pertussis cases.)

There are a total of 41 pertussis cases logged in Quezon City, including six deaths, as of April 5.

Sixty percent, or 21 cases, were infants less than 6 months old.

Meanwhile, the ages of pertussis patients in the city range from 22 days old to 13 years old, with a median age of three months.