DOH Prioritizes Dermatologists for Initial Mpox Vaccine Doses

Dermatologists will be among the first to receive the initial doses of the mpox vaccine in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The Bavarian Nordic’s Imvanex vaccine, designed to protect against the mpox virus, will soon be distributed, and healthcare workers, particularly dermatologists, are at the top of the list for immunization.

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DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo stated that dermatologists are prioritized because they are often the first to examine patients with potentially infectious skin conditions. Given their role on the front lines, they are considered essential in receiving the mpox vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the country.

“We see early on that the priority will be frontliners, specifically dermatologists,” Domingo explained during an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

“When the vaccine arrives, our first recipients will be those directly handling mpox cases since they are our primary defense against infection,” he added.

Domingo also mentioned that following dermatologists, the next group to be vaccinated will be “key populations,” determined by data analysis.

“It will depend on the data we gather. Currently, we are at case number 10…but based on epidemiological data, we will assess case characteristics, behaviors, and transmission sources to determine the next priority group,” he said.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa previously noted that the Philippines is working to obtain 2,000 doses of mpox vaccines offered to the country.

Additionally, the DOH has expressed its interest to the World Health Organization (WHO) in acquiring smallpox vaccines that may provide cross-protection against mpox. The global priority for these vaccines currently focuses on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mpox transmission rates are highest.

Herbosa recently convened the DOH’s Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (EREID) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) to discuss the importance of equipping healthcare workers, particularly dermatologists, with the necessary resources to handle mpox cases effectively, given the skin-related symptoms of the disease.

Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting 2 to 4 weeks, along with fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. —KBK, GMA Integrated News