Gab Ibis
 
As the Department of Health (DOH) intensifies its monitoring of mpox cases, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa revealed the agency's recent request for 2,000 vaccine doses from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Photo Courtesy of WHO/BioSpace/PBS.

Despite the rising concern, Herbosa clarified that the Philippines is not seeking immediate prioritization for vaccine distribution, acknowledging the pressing need for these vaccines in Africa, where the more severe MPXV clade I is prevalent.
 
“We continue to monitor the mpox situation in our country even as we link with our counterparts worldwide,” Herbosa said.
 
The Philippines has recorded a total of 10 mpox cases since 2023, with the most recent case reported on August 18, involving a 33-year-old male with no travel history.
 
Fortunately, all cases so far have involved the milder MPXV clade II, and no fatalities have been reported.
 
In response to the growing mpox threat, Herbosa, along with DOH officials, attended a WHO briefing on the global mpox situation.
 
Presided over by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the session underscored the urgency of a coordinated global response.
 
WHO presented a draft Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), which requires at least USD 135 million in funding over the next six months to combat the outbreak effectively.
 
The SPRP outlines a phased approach to vaccination, with an immediate focus on containing the outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where transmission rates are highest.
 
“Hindi ako nakikipag-agawan [sa vaccine] kasi alam ko mas kailangan nila sa Africa ‘Yun yung discussion last night,” Herbosa said via the Philippine News Agency.
 
Once more vaccines are available, the strategy will shift to expanding protection in affected communities worldwide, targeting individuals at high risk of severe disease.
 
In the Philippines, the DOH has already convened its Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Strategic Advisory Group of Experts to strengthen the country's preparedness.
 
The group emphasized the need to empower health workers, particularly dermatologists, who are more likely to identify mpox cases due to the disease's distinct skin symptoms.
 
Herbosa also reiterated the importance of preventive measures, advising the public to maintain good hygiene practices, such as regular hand washing and keeping skin covered, to prevent the virus's skin-to-skin transmission.
 
“We know much about mpox and its skin-to-skin transmission. Stop it from spreading by washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol sanitizers,” Herbosa said.
 
While the Philippines awaits the arrival of the 2,000 requested vaccine doses, Herbosa stressed that the country would not compete for the limited supply, highlighting the critical need to first address the outbreak in Africa.
 
"The vaccine is insufficient. We have to give it first to Africa because the outbreak there needs to be contained," Herbosa said.