DOH hit over delays in flu vaccine procurement

There should be no delays in the Department of Health (DOH)’s procurement of flu vaccines since late arrivals of such medical supplies might only be a waste of time and government resources, House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Janette Garin said following reports that flu vaccine procurement has been delayed for the fifth time.

- Delon Porcalla

“The flu vaccine is designed in such a way that at the start of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) determines what is the prevailing serotype,” she pointed out over the weekend.

Garin explained that the WHO selects different types of flu vaccine annually, noting that the flu vaccine defeats its purpose if it arrives in the country in December.

“We will only be wasting the funds allocated for that purpose because the prevailing serotype will vary by next year.

Also, it defeats the afforded protection because the flu season is August until November,” she explained further.