DOH won't shelve plan to buy P100-million flu vaccines

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) does not intend to shelve its plan to purchase P100-million worth of vaccines against Influenza A(H1N1) despite the “post-pandemic” declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center, said vaccine companies no longer manufacture vaccines solely for H1N1.

“The manufacturers no longer make vaccines for H1N1 alone. They combined the H1N1 (vaccines) with other influenza viruses like H2N2 since it’s already post-pandemic,” Tayag said in an interview.

At the height of the H1N1 pandemic, the DOH decided to procure the vaccines, in addition to the 3.4 million doses of the vaccine donated in two batches by the WHO to the Philippines.

Part of the first batch of the vaccines donated by the WHO are set to expire on Sept.15, 2010 so the DOH is urging the public to avail of the free immunization.

Senior citizens, he said, will be prioritized in the vaccination program.