DOH urged to purchase 5 million flu vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — As influenza cases are expected to increase next month, the Department of Health (DOH) should speed up the purchase of five million doses of flu vaccines for senior citizens, according to infectious disease expert Rontgene Solante.

“There’s an urgent need to fast track procurement because we want the most vulnerable to be protected with a vaccine that will prevent death, prevent hospitalization, prevent complications of flu,” he said.

Solante is the lead convenor of the Raising Awareness on Influenza to Support Elderlies (RAISE) Coalition.

Around five million doses are supposed to be released during the first few months of the year for indigent seniors, he noted.

“As of now, there is no available vaccine. It is important that our senior citizens should have already been vaccinated with this starting April up to July to prepare for the peak of influenza, which is August to December and early January of next year,” he said.

Procurement of vaccines is ongoing, he noted, citing a DOH source.

The Philippines is far behind in its target of 75 percent vaccine coverage as recommended by the World Health Organization for populations at risk, Solante lamented.

“Only 8.81 percent of adults aged 60 and older in the Philippines were vaccinated against influenza in 2022,” he said.

The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 mandates free influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for indigent seniors.

Legislators and the RAISE Coalition have been advocating to expand this measure to cover all seniors.