WITH pertussis outbreaks declared in several local government units, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) is urging the public to make sure their DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) immunization is updated.
“The PCP emphasizes the critical role of vaccination as the most effective method for preventing outbreaks,” it said.
The PCP said infants and children must get their three-dose primary immunization series with DTaP recommended at ages 1 ½, 2 ½, and 3 ½ months, plus first booster dose at 12 to 18 months, and the second booster dose between 4 and 6 years old.
For adolescents who have completed the recommended childhood DTaP series, they should receive a single DTaP booster, recommended for those between 9 and 18 years old.
The Department of Health said a single DTaP booster is recommended for adults aged 19 to 64 years, and another single booster shot for adults aged 65 and older. The DTaP vaccine is strongly suggested for pregnant women of all ages, ideally in the third trimester (between 27 and 36 weeks) of each pregnancy, the DOH also said.
The PCP said the vaccines against pertussis, or whooping cough, are needed to prevent severe cases, especially among the young and the elderly. It said severe pertussis symptoms may lead to life-threatening complications and outcomes.
“The infection poses a significant threat particularly among infants and young children, who are at risk of severe symptoms and life-threatening complications and outcome,” it said.
“There is a risk of severe illness, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions and the unvaccinated elderly population,” it added.
Pertussis is an acute respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, and have symptoms such as cough, colds, and fever.
Outbreaks have been declared in in Quezon City, Pasig City, Iloilo City, and Cavite province.
The DOH has recorded over 500 cases, with 40 fatalities, only the first 10 weeks of the year. Last week, the DOH said the number of pertussis or whooping cough cases in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) is “plateauing” while almost 10 other regions reported an increase in cases.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, a physician and health secretary from 2015 to 2016, yesterday blamed the DOH under the Duterte administration for the rise in pertussis cases, saying the outbreak was a result of vaccine hesitancy which he said the former administration had failed to address.
Garin said even the resurgence of polio and measles cases happened because of the spread of “fake news” on the efficacy of vaccines under the Duterte administration, something which she attributed to the “Duque-Ubial legacy.”
She was referring to former Health Secretaries Francisco Duque III and Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial during the Duterte administration.
“We have to understand that what happens during the current administration is actually an offshoot of some mistakes committed during the previous administration. So, of course, when you demonize one vaccine and fake experts lord over, the people get confused,” she said in mixed Filipino and English during a press conference.
Garin was referring to critics of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia which was used in 2016 in the government’s anti-dengue vaccination program which involved hundreds of thousands of students. While some blamed the vaccine for the death of several children, the DOH had maintained then there was no solid proof to link the deaths to Dengvaxia, a product of French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
“Why is it that in the whole world, the pertussis outbreak happened only in the Philippines? Why did polio come back? Why is it that last year, many died of measles? This is all because of vaccine hesitancy,” Garin said.
Garin noted that from a 98 percent vaccination coverage, the record has dropped to around 30 to 32 percent nationwide, including the coverage for polio, measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis.
“My apologies, but I call it actually the Duque and Ubial legacy because during their time in the DOH, they did not stop the spread of fake news, when there were allegations that the dengue vaccine kills,” she said.
Garin said it is wrong to blame the Marcos Jr. administration for the pertussis outbreak and for the “lapses of the previous leaders of the DOH.”
Garin said one is expected to get pertussis infection if vaccination is incomplete. “When you are infected but you’re vaccinated, you can fight it. So it doesn’t lead to death. Unfortunately, we have a vaccine scare, specifically then during the Duterte administration. I believe the DOH has to address the elephant in the room,” she added. — With Wendell Vigilia
