Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has renewed his call on the establishment of a Virology and Vaccine Institute to help boost vaccine development in the country amid continuing cases of pertussis or ‘whooping cough’ and other preventable diseases.
Gatchalian made the call during the observance of the World Immunization Week from April 24 to 30.
He noted that the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 1,477 cases of pertussis and 63 fatalities from January 1 to April 6. The DOH said children under five years old make up 76 percent of the recorded cases.
Under the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act of 2022, the senator seeks initiatives to boost technology transfer, as well as create a premier research and development facility to develop vaccines for various types of viruses affecting humans, plants, and animals.
“If we have our own Virology and Vaccine Institute, we can address the need for an appropriate and timely research and supply of vaccines, like what we are experiencing now with regards to the vaccines for pertussis,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also recalled the country’s experience during the COVID 19 pandemic when the need to develop domestic vaccine production emerged.
While pertussis cases are rising steadily, the DOH previously flagged a looming shortage of pertussis vaccines by May.
However, the DOH was able to secure three million pertussis doses from the Serum Institute of India to ensure adequate supply of the vaccine in May and June.
Six million doses of pentavalent vaccines, which offer protection against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B, are expected to arrive by July.