Not legally available yet: DOH issues warning vs Mpox ‘vaccines’

CEBU, Philippines — No Mpox vaccines are legally available in the Philippines yet, that is why the Department of Health cautioned the public from being lured to buy from individuals and groups purported vaccines.

An advisory sent by DOH yesterday stated that there may be organizations or individuals offering supposed Mpox vaccines that are "imported" from abroad.

“The public is cautioned against availing such vaccines,” read the advisory.

DOH said that “(t)hese vaccines if any, are brought into the country without the careful attention of regulatory agencies like the DOH and its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accordingly.”

It said Mpox vaccines require certain storage and handling condition, like a cold chain storage used for the Covid-19 vaccines.

“Without DOH FDA safeguards, there is no way to assure safety and efficacy,” DOH said.

It said it is better to get Mpox vaccine doses once they are already legally available, “to ensure that you are getting real, safe, and effective vaccines - and not just a false sense of security”.

Mpox is just treated with supportive care, DOH said earlier.

Patients with no other illnesses may stay at home after testing, until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms, typically after 2-4 weeks.

A common symptom of Mpox are skin rashes or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks.

The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Anyone can get Mpox, DOH said, but can only be transmitted to humans through close, intimate (including sexual) contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials like used clothes or utensils, or with infected animals.

Soap and water can kill the virus. When washing contaminated materials, use gloves.

Laboratory confirmation of Mpox is done by testing skin lesion material.

Currently, it takes two to three days for the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) from testing to have results.

“Dermatologists and other physicians who are entertaining a high index of suspicion had been reminded by DOH earlier to record the name and contact information of their patients and guide them to the nearest major hospital,” DOH said. — (FREEMAN)