RP tarries as rich countries battle for flu vaccine supply

MANILA, Philippines – The race for the still unavailable vaccine against Influenza A(H1N1) virus is on. Affluent countries have made advanced orders for the sought-after vaccine, but the Philippines appears to be dilly-dallying, even after the death of a 49-year-old Filipina who became the first A(H1N1)-related fatality in Asia.

The first A(H1N1)-related fatality in the country and in Asia turned out to be an employee of the House of Representatives, which prompted the leadership Tuesday to shut down the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles ordered the suspension of work at the House until Sunday, June 28, for the sanitation of its buildings to be spearheaded by officials from its medical services in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH).

“We haven’t placed any order yet because we need to determine the priority group," says Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the Department of Health (DOH)’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The determination of the group who will first benefit from the vaccine against A(H1N1) is dependent on the country’s goal, according to Oliveros: Will it prioritize public service? Will it focus on economic sustainability, or will it concentrate on minimizing casualties?

“If it is social service, then health workers, policemen, and the military will be the priority. If it’s economic productivity, we will concentrate on working groups. But if the goal is reducing mortality then we will prioritize the very young and the very old," Oliveros says.

The government is still in the assessment stage, and it will take about two more weeks before the DOH’s planning group can identify the priority groups, according to Oliveros.

“You need to balance priorities with existing resources," Oliveros says. She added that the Philippines, as a developing country, is not like affluent nations that can adequately ensure the health needs of their citizens.

While the Philippines is dawdling, the rush for the vaccine has started. As early as May, after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised alarm bells about the infection that first struck Mexico, several countries began placing orders

GMANews.TV