RP gets 9 million doses of flu vaccines
THE World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday announced the donation of nine million doses of vaccines for influenza A(H1N1) to the Philippines.
The vaccines will be sent in batches starting yearend with about 1.2 million doses, said WHO director general Dr. Margaret Chan.
The WHO donation is aside from the P100 million worth of vaccines earlier ordered by the Health department.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said priority will be given to healthcare workers.
"These medical personnel are at higher risk of getting the disease than ordinary people due to the larger probability of exposure plus they may also unknowingly transmit the infections to their families and other patients with other illnesses," he said.
Next in the priority list are pregnant women as they have 10 times the risk of needing intensive care "if infected compared to the general population"
Also in the list are people aged six months to 59 years old with chronic medical conditions, and children five years old and below and adults who are beyond 60 years old. Duque said they are considered to be at "highest risk of severe infection".
Vaccination will be free of charge and will not be made mandatory.
As of October 10, the DOH has already recorded a total of 5,416 confirmed cases of H1N1, including 33 deaths. At least 99 percent have recovered.