BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) has clarified that there is no shortage of anti-rabies vaccine supply intended for humans despite the sudden spike in animal bite cases in the city.
The CHO has about 6,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccines which are good for another six months, said CHO’s Medical Officer III Carlo Gabriel Ortega during a press conference yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Last week, the City Council committee on health and sanitation expressed alarm over the reported shortage in anti-rabies vaccines here.
Rabies is a deadly virus that can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from an infected animal, typically a dog. Without prompt treatment, the virus affects the central nervous system, leading to brain disease and death.
Despite the ample supply of vaccines, Ortega stressed that not all patients who would want to avail themselves of the free anti-rabies vaccines will be given.
The medical officer reiterated that the free vaccines can only be availed based on the category of the wound of the patient.
Only category 3 wound will be given free vaccine because it is covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Here is CHO’s categorization of animal bites:
* category 1 – there is no open wound
* category 2 – nibling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding
* category 3 – single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, and bleeding
Ortega said most of the animal bite cases in the city were under category 2, which means they were not entitled to avail of the vaccines; they have to buy the vaccines and bring it to the CHO for vaccination.
In the first four months of this year, Ortega said they recorded a sudden increase in animal bite cases. From January to March, around 1,400 cases per month were recorded and in April, the CHO logged about 1,700 cases.
CHO data further showed that in 2022, there were around 9,000 animal bite cases and approximately 14,000 cases in 2023.
Meanwhile, the city government, spearheaded by the City Veterinary Office (CVO), started a mass rabies vaccination for cats and dogs last month.
The CVO targets to immunize 70 percent of the estimated 100,000 dog population in the city by October this year to achieve herd immunity and prevent the rabies outbreak./PN
