(AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that it encountered challenges in the distribution of vaccines in some parts of the country which led to lapses in immunization.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said some health centers did not have the proper facilities for the storage of vaccines.
“May supply tayo ng vaccine, ang problema ko is supply and distribution. Sometimes, walang bakuna ‘yong health center kasi wala silang cold chain ibig sabihin n’on, hindi ka pwede magstore ng bakuna doon. So ang mangyayari d’on idedeliver lang siya to them kapag may babakunahan,” Herbosa said in a press briefing.
(We have a supply of vaccines, the problem is in the supply and distribution. Some health centers have no vaccines because they don’t have a cold chain, meaning, you can’t store vaccines there. So what will happen is that the vaccines will only be delivered to them when someone is to be vaccinated.)
“So, ayusin namin ‘yan, isa ‘yan sa factors kung bakit mataas ang unvaccinated children natin,” he added.
(We’ll address that, that’s one of the factors why the number of unvaccinated children is high.)
Meanwhile, Herbosa likewise said that the country may have a pertussis vaccine shortage by May, but added that six million doses of pentavalent vaccines are set to arrive in July.
The DOH’s data said that from January 1, 2024 to March 30, 2024, the country has logged 1,112 pertussis cases, with 54 deaths.