No shortage of flu vaccines in Philippines —FDA chief

There is no shortage of flu vaccines in the Philippines, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Eric Domingo said on Friday.

"We did check with the flu vaccine suppliers wala naman silang sinasabi o dini-declare na shortage ng supply... As of now, there are no reports of flu vaccine shortage," Domingo told reporters in an online forum of the Department of Health (DOH).

The FDA chief gave this assurance after Quezon governor Danilo Suarez sought help

Suarez said the provincial government has funds to procure flu vaccines but it is having a difficulty on its availability.

The demand for flu vaccines spiked amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Domingo.

"Talagang nag-increase 'yung demand dahil nga to protect everybody from the seasonal flu and pneumonia. Para hindi na natin ma-confuse with COVID-19, we wanted to get vaccinations," he said.

Domingo, nevertheless, said he does not think the COVID-19 vaccine race among pharmaceutical firms is affecting the supply of flu vaccines.

"It's not because the companies are nakatutok sa COVID-19 kasi ibang arm naman 'yun, 'yung sa research and development part," he said.

Domingo said the Quezon provincial government can be assisted by the regional office of the DOH in securing flu vaccines.—AOL, GMA News