The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday encouraged the public to keep their masks on amid the persistence of pertussis or whooping cough cases.
According to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, the DOH is expecting three million pentavalent vaccines to arrive in the country soon to protect more citizens against the virus that causes pertussis.
Pentavalent shots are five-in-one vaccines that immunize a person against five diseases — pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Hemophilus influenzae type B.
The DOH, meanwhile, thanked the media for its timely coverage of pertussis and measles in the country, as it helped convince the public to get vaccinated.
“Accurate and responsible reporting has drawn attention to the need to catch up with vaccination after the pandemic. After all, these are vaccine preventable diseases, “ Herbosa said.
Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on health, echoed the DOH position on voluntary masking.
Go called for increased vigilance, government intervention, and community cooperation to stem the spread of the disease and prevent fatalities.
Whooping cough is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium, which spreads via respiratory droplets and may result in serious health issues, such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage that can lead to death.
The senator also advocated for long-term strategies to enhance the country’s preparedness and response against infectious diseases.
This includes improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing public awareness campaigns on vaccination, and strengthening collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, and communities.
Go made a pointed appeal for the government to ramp up its vaccination efforts, noting that pertussis is included in the mandatory vaccination program.
The senator filed Senate Bill No. 195 or the creation of a Center for Disease Control (CDC). If passed into law, CDC will serve as the country’s central hub for disease prevention, surveillance, and control, focusing on both infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Earlier, the DOH said the incidence of pertussis or whooping cough in Metro Manila is stabilizing, but rising in other regions.
Iloilo City was the latest local government unit to officially declare an outbreak of pertussis.
The Bacolod City government, on the other hand, issued on Monday a health alert against pertussis following a report that a minor was admitted at a local hospital on suspicion of whooping cough infection.
Taguig City also urged residents to take precautions against pertussis.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said many areas in the country are on alert over the pertussis breakout, particularly among children.
“About 10 regions had an increase in pertussis cases. In NCR, cases are plateauing. This means that the cases in NCR are not increasing as much as we expected,” Tayag said.