ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reports a significant shortage of rabies vaccines for humans due to a surge in animal bite incidents.
Between 2021 and 2023, animal bite cases have steadily increased, with 40,183 in 2021, 46,308 in 2022, and a sharp rise to 72,805 in 2023.
As of the first quarter of this year, 14,632 patients sought rabies vaccination after animal bites, mostly from dogs and cats, at the 17 Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) and 13 district hospitals across the province.
“The vaccines allocated to our centers and hospitals will never be sufficient. The demand far exceeds our supply,” explained Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the IPHO.
Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, typically through bites.
Symptoms in humans include fever, headache, excessive salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis, and mental confusion, leading to death if untreated. Prevention involves immediate cleansing of the wound, vaccination of pets, and prompt medical care including vaccination after exposure.
The provincial government allocated P5 million earlier this year for purchasing rabies vaccines, which were quickly depleted.
An additional P3.5 million has been spent on more vaccines, which are still expected to arrive.
As of now, the health units are using 1,500 vials donated by the Department of Health (DOH) on June 6, 2024, but these are also nearing depletion.
Dr. Rodney Labis, chief of the IPHO-Health Service Delivery Division, cited the rapid consumption of vaccines, “Even the newly procured vaccines won’t be enough due to the rising number of patients accessing our ABTCs.”
To address this concern, the IPHO is lobbying the 43 local government units (LGUs) and district hospitals to procure additional vaccines for better coverage.
“We are already foreseeing a shortage due to the high number of dog bites,” added Labis.
From January 1 to June 8, 2024, Iloilo recorded three rabies-related deaths, a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The cases originated from Pototan, Dumangas, and Alimodian.
Amid this vaccine shortage, the IPHO promotes responsible pet ownership and the enforcement of local ordinances to reduce animal bite incidents and the subsequent demand for vaccines. Quiñon urged pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies, secure them to prevent escape, and provide proper care including food and vitamins.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has instructed the IPHO to prepare for these challenges, indicating plans to address the issue in the upcoming supplemental budget.
He also emphasized the need to clarify the target beneficiaries of the rabies vaccine, as the resources are not sufficient to cover the entire population.
Additionally, coordination with national agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development is underway to seek further assistance./PN
