DOH URGED TO HOLD COMPETITIVE TENDER

Review of pneumococcal diseases crucial to determining suitable vaccine—expert

A review of the prevalent strains of pneumococcal diseases in the Philippines would help medical authorities determine the suitable type of vaccine needed as discussions among stakeholders on which of the PCV13 or PCV10 should be administered to children under five years old.

Both vaccine types have been found effective by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to a position paper released by the World Health Organization early this year: “Both PCV10 and PCV13 have been shown to be safe and effective and to have both direct (in vaccinated individuals) and indirect (in unvaccinated individuals living in communities with vaccinated children) effects against pneumococcal disease caused by vaccine serotypes when used in a 3-dose schedule or in a 4-dose schedule.”

Some industry stakeholders have reportedly expressed concerns why the Department of Health (DOH) allegedly preferred to make a tender for only one type of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine—the PCV13.

In an apparent bid to address the continued vaccine scare, the Department of Health (DOH) has moved for an early call for tender for pediatric vaccines.

However, the department was urged to ensure that all possible vaccines are considered for 2020 to avoid the same issues and problems that the government faced in the past.

A total of P4.9 billion was supposedly devoted to a specific vaccine for pneumococcal diseases, the biggest vaccine-preventable cause of death in children under five.

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Vergeire told GMA News Online on Tuesday that PCV10 is “still undergoing health technology assessment and not yet included in the Philippine National Formulary.”

“Pareho naman silang effective, pareho silang safe ... The most important thing is most likely either of the two also covers the most common predominant serotypes in our country kasi ‘yun naman ang importante,” Dr. Sally Gatchalian, who is also the president of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), said in a separate interview.

“We need to review the data that we have in the Philippines, kung ano ba ‘yung common serotypes that we have now,” she added, noting that her views on the matter does not necessarily reflect that of the PPS.

Gatchalian noted that PCV13 covers 13 serotypes of the bacteria while PCV10 covers 10.

“Ang pneumococcal diseases kasi iba-iba, pwedeng pneumonia, meningitis, o otitis media. Sinasabing pneumococcal disease kasi the organism is Streptococcus pneumoniae,” she said.

“‘Yan ang pinaka-common na mikrobyo na nagko-cause ng mga sakit na ‘yan sa mga bata, sa less than five years old,” she added.

The Philippine Foundation for Vaccination reiterated its call to establish a multidisciplinary independent technical group to address the knowledge gaps on vaccines in the country.

“A true NITAG or National Immunization Technical Advisory Group should be the recommendatory body for selecting the vaccines most appropriate for our people considering the many factors that determines the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of the vaccine,” executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo separately told GMA News Online on Tuesday.

“We have proposed the formation of a NITAG to DOH since 2010,” she added. —VDS, GMA News