DOH: PH has asked WHO for vaccines vs. mpox

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said world leaders have decided to deploy vaccines against mpox in Africa first to contain the current outbreak, but the Philippines is also already in line to receive doses.

In an interview over Teleradyo Serbisyo on Saturday, Aug. 24, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a briefing with member states for the international response in fighting mpox. The new strain clade Ib of mpox is behind the ongoing upsurge in Africa.

“Yong current vaccine, ngayon di ako nakikipag-agawan kasi alam kong mas kailangan nila sa Africa. ‘Yon ‘yong discussion last night… ‘yong bakuna na konti lang ibubuhos muna sa Africa sapagkat kailangan ma-contain yong outbreak dun,” Herbosa said.

[Translation: I’m not competing in getting the current vaccine because I know Africa needs it more. Last night, the discussion was to pour the stocks first to Africa to contain the outbreak.]

“Pero nanghingi na ako, I have about 2,000 doses coming from our share sa ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) sa WHO and may proseso ‘yan para maipasok,” he said.

[Translation: But I already asked from the WHO. I have about 2,000 doses coming from our share in the ASEAN from the WHO and there’s a process to bring that into the country.]

Thailand is the first Asian country to record an infection of the more infectious clade Ib.

The first mpox case this year in the Philippines and the country’s 10th case in total was caused by clade II, considered the “milder” strain of the virus.

The WHO said vaccines for smallpox may also used for mpox, but it also urged mpox vaccine manufacturers to scale up production.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan needs “approximately US$135 million over the next six months for the acute phase of the outbreak.”