
The Department of Health (DOH) is studying the possibility of conducting “ring vaccination” to prevent the spread of monkeypox once vaccines are available.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that this method includes vaccinating a “ring” of people or those exposed to someone with monkeypox.
“Hindi ho tayo kapareho ng Covid-19 na babakunahan ang buong populasyon, ang kailangan natin talagang pangunahing bakunahan at talagang high priority would be those close contacts,” she said during a press briefing.
Targeted vaccination, as per experts, will be effective at limiting the transmission of monkeypox. The said disease can be transmitted from intimate contact. Other possible reasons are sharing bedding, clothing, and prolonged face-to-face contact.
“So, gagawa tayo ng ring vaccination kung saan kapag nagkaroon ng sakit or infection ang isang tao, kung sino ‘yung close contacts niya, ‘yun ang unang-una nating babakunahan,” Vergeire said.
Currently, the Philippines is still under negotiation for the purchasing of monkeypox vaccines.
“This will entail additional cost to government. But we know it’s going to be cost-effective because this is for public health,” the health chief said.
— Ronald Espartinez