Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte with city health officers in a recent press conference on the pertussis outbreak
MANILA, Philippines – Quezon City has purchased and received some P13 million worth of anti-pertussis vaccines and medications, Mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Tuesday.
Belmonte said the city has already received more than 3,500 vials of 6-in-1 vaccine, 1,012 bottles of Azithromycin, and 1,000 bottles of Clarithromycin.
The vaccines will be administered to children 6 weeks old and up who have yet to receive a vaccine against pertussis.
“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,” said Belmonte.
Recently delivered supply of 6-in-one vaccine Hexaxim
Aside from pertussis, Belmonte said the 6-in-1 vaccine provides children with protection against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, haemophilus influenzae, and hepatitis B.
Azithromycin and Clarithromycin are antibiotics prescribed for pertussis-positive 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. We will immediately deploy these vaccines and medicines to all health centers particularly in areas where Pertusis cases increased”, Belmonte said.
As of April 5, the Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division reported 41 pertussis cases in Quezon City, with six child deaths.
It added that 60 percent or 21 pertussis cases were infants less than 6 months old.
Fresh stock of Azithromycin
The city government earlier declared a pertussis outbreak, enabling it to mobilize its assets and resources to stop the spread of the highly contagious illness, which is also known as whooping cough.
It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and can be transmitted through person-to-person respiratory droplets or contact with airborne droplets and exposure to infected or contaminated clothes, utensils, furniture, etc.
Stocks of antibacterial Clarithromycin
The Department of Health has also committed support to the Quezon City government, especially through the allocation of vaccines and other health interventions for QCitizens.
The city government also extended burial and financial assistance to the families of the six children who died.