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Pentavalent Vaccines Arrive In Davao City

The City Health Office (CHO) urges parents of children who have not yet received the Pentavalent vaccine to take advantage of the vaccine services available at healthcare centers.

Dr. Julinda Acosta, chief of the CHO technical division, announced during the ISpeak media forum on Thursday, October 3, 2024, that 24,367 vials of the Pentavalent vaccine from the Department of Health (DOH) have arrived, allowing them to administer the vaccine to children who missed their doses.

"Ilang bata nga wala pa natagaan ug penta they can visit the health centers maybe next week kasi karun we received the vaccines just last September 27 from DOH (Parents whose children have not yet received the Pentavalent vaccine can visit the health centers starting next week, as we just received the vaccines from the DOH on September 27)," she said.

She added that distribution of the vaccines began on Monday, with district offices and barangay health stations receiving their supplies. Healthcare workers have been instructed to conduct catch-up immunizations, especially for children who missed their scheduled doses.

The CHO also expectes another bulk delivery of Pentavalent vaccines from the DOH to supplement the first batch.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pentavalent vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, and hepatitis B, significantly reducing health risks for vaccinated children.

Previously, Acosta disclosed on September 18 that the city had been waiting for vaccine deliveries from the DOH due to a shortage that began in June 2024. She noted that this shortage is not only affecting the Philippines but is a global issue. As a result, the number of children receiving the Pentavalent vaccine has decreased.

CHO data shows that among the eligible population of children aged zero to 11 months, only 12,092 (32.7 percent) have received the first dose of the Pentavalent vaccine. The city's overall immunization rate has steadily dropped, from 62.9 percent in 2022 to 65.4 percent in 2023, and it stands at just 28 percent as of September 2024. RGP

What Pentavalent Vaccine Is And What It Does For Your Baby

 Photo: Courtesy

The pentavalent vaccine is five individual vaccines conjugated in one and intended to actively protect your baby from five potentially deadly diseases: Haemophilus Influenza type B (the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and otitis media – ear infection), Whooping Cough (or Pertussis), Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Diphtheria.

Diphtheria is a respiratory disease that can cause breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and death. It's highly contagious and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Tetanus, or lockjaw, is a disease caused by a bacterium often found in soil. Once it enters the body it releases a toxin that attacks the nervous system, causing muscle spasms and death if left untreated.

Pertussis, also highly contagious, causes severe coughing spasms in infants and may make it difficult to eat, drink, or even breathe. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Haemophilus Influenza type B is a deadly bacterium which causes meningitis and pneumonia. It is considered the third biggest cause of vaccine-preventable death in children aged under five.

The majority of survivors suffer paralysis, deafness, mental retardation and learning disabilities following the meningitis it causes. Hepatitis B (Hep B) is a viral infection that is more than 50 times more infectious than HIV and causes chronic or acute live infections and increases risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer in later life.

Pentavalent vaccine combines five different vaccines in a single vial. It is a successor to the DTP vaccine, introduced to boost coverage of hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (HiB) vaccines by including them as part of routine immunization. Offering hepB and Hib vaccines as part of a five-in-one conjugate pentavalent vaccine doesn't just improve coverage, it also means that just three shots are needed instead of the usual nine to provide the same cover from separate vaccines (three each for DTP, hepB and Hib vaccines).

The vaccine is given to babies at six, ten and 14 weeks of age. Tetanus in newborn infants is prevented if the mother has been immunized because an immune mother passes antibodies to the baby across the placenta. The mother is immune if she has been immunized before becoming pregnant or during pregnancy. An expectant mother whose tetanus immunization status is uncertain or whose last immunization was more than 10 years ago should be immunized against tetanus.

Only 12K Infants In Davao City Out Of Around 37K Receive Penta 1 Dose Due Global Shortage

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) announced that they are awaiting the delivery of pentavalent vaccines from the national government, following a shortage that began in June 2024.

Dr. Julinda Acosta, chief of the CHO Technical Division, shared in a media interview on Tuesday, September 18, 2024, at the Apo View Hotel, that they expect the supply to arrive by October.

"Hopefully karung Oktubre muabot na ang atoang Penta. Actually nagkaroon tayo ng shortage sa Penta dili lang sa Pilipinas even sa globally pero karung October mag-abot atoang penta vaccine (Hopefully, this October the Penta vaccines will arrive. We've experienced a shortage not only in the Philippines but globally. However, we are anticipating the arrival of the vaccines this October)" she said.  

She added that other vaccines are available at their office, and personnel have been instructed to continue administering them to children. Acosta also noted that the shortage has led to a decrease in the number of children receiving the first dose of the Penta vaccine (Penta 1).

"Ni kunhod atoang Penta 1 kay nahutdan gyud ta ug vaccine since June, July, August, September, mag four months na po na wala tayong Penta (The number of children receiving Penta 1 has decreased because we have been out of stock since June. It's been four months without the Penta vaccine)," she said.

Acosta also said that once the vaccines arrive, the CHO will launch a large catch-up vaccination campaign to ensure children who missed their doses can be immunized.

The CHO underscored that only the pentavalent vaccine is in short supply, while all other vaccines remain available at healthcare centers.

CHO data shows that, among the eligible population of children aged zero to 11 months, only 12,092, or 32.7 percent, have received the Penta 1 dose. Additionally, the immunization rate in Davao City has steadily decreased, from 62.9 percent in 2022 to 65.4 percent in 2023, and only 28 percent as of September 2024.

In response, the local government is intensifying strategic vaccination efforts at fixed sites, including schools, malls, hotels, parks, and through mobile and door-to-door campaigns.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the pentavalent vaccine protects against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, and hepatitis B, significantly reducing health risks for immunized children. RGP

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