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A health worker examines skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox on the back of a young child at the mpox treatment centre at the Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital, north of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on  August 14, 2024. Guerchom Ndebo, WHO/File

A health worker examines skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox on the back of a young child at the mpox treatment centre at the Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital, north of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on  August 14, 2024. On 14 August 2024, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus determined that the upsurge of mpox in DRC and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).  Guerchom Ndebo, WHO

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DRC: Mpox in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 2024

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172640387612920240814-mpox-patient-goma-drc-WHO70227.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A health worker examines skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox on the back of a young child at the mpox treatment centre at the Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital, north of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on  August 14, 2024. Guerchom Ndebo, WHO/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A health worker examines skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox on the back of a young child at the mpox treatment centre at the Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital, north of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on  August 14, 2024. <em>Guerchom Ndebo, WHO/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) has cautioned the public from availing of mpox vaccines that are supposedly imported from other countries.</p><p>DOH spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo on Sunday expressed concern over the handling of said vaccines since they have not passed through regulations under the health department and the Food and Drug Administration.</p><p>&quot;Talagang nababalitaan natin na mayroon dyan sa paligid-ligid, na mayroon na silang dalang bakuna. Ang iba&#x27;y nagsabi galing abroad daw, galing sa US o kung saan man nanggaling,&quot; said Domingo in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.</p><p>&quot;Hindi na natin isasama ang usapin sa smuggling... Ang usapin dito is safety and efficacy,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;Ang mga bakuna ay mayroong cold chain or storage conditions. At kapat ito ay mawala sa tamang temperatura, kaunting alog lang sa hand carry sa luggage or nawala sa yelo, maaring mawala sa bisa.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/13/doh-warns-vs-imported-mpox-vaccine-offers-1430">READ: DOH warns vs &#x27;imported&#x27; mpox vaccine offers</a></div><p>Domingo also cited that it was only days ago when the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it prequalified the mpox vaccine.</p><p>This, he said, is the reason they have yet to procure supply of the vaccine.</p><p>&quot;Wala pang bakunang siyang available sa ating bansa. Kakalabas lang ng balita na nagpre-qualify na... Ibig sabihin even sa buong mundo, ngayon palang in-approve ng WHO yung ating bagong bakuna,&quot; he said.</p><p>The health official also said the vaccines are being funneled to Africa, where mpox or monkey pox first broke out.</p><p>&quot;Wala po tayong makukuha at this point in time kasi ibinubuhos ang bakuna sa Africa kung saan nanduon ang matinding hawa,&quot; said Domingo.</p><div><strong>FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Zp1GDhVaoQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Domingo said those availing the &quot;imported&quot; vaccines might only get themselves a false sense of security.</div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/9/11/mpox-cases-in-ph-rise-to-15-doh-2054">READ: Mpox cases in PH rise to 15: DOH</a></div><p>The imported vaccines, he said, might look legitimate or genuine but the efficacy remains in question.</p><p>&quot;Makikita mo siya baka yung pakete niya, yung kahon o bote, lehitimo. Pero pinapaalala namin sa lahat, pag lipad sa eroplano hindi na nahawakan ng tama. Kasi ang ating kamay may temperature yan, so hindi basta hinahawak hawakan ang bakuna,&quot; said Domingo.</p><p>&quot;In other words hindi namin ma-assure yung storage and handling... Magkakaroon ng false sense of security yung ating mga kaserbisyo pag naturukan sila, &#x27;yun pala parang tubig lang ang pumasok sa balat nila.&quot;</p><p>Earlier, the DOH said it will avail of 2,000 Jynneos vaccine doses to help prevent the spread of mpox in the country.  </p><p>The Philippines currently has 15 active cases of mpox, which is mainly transmitted through intimate, skin-to-skin contact.</p><div><br/></div>

<p>DOH spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo on Sunday expressed concern over the handling of said vaccines since they have not passed through regulation under the health department and the Food and Drug Administration.</p>

DOH spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo on Sunday expressed concern over the handling of said vaccines since they have not passed through regulation under the health department and the Food and Drug Administration.

DOH questions efficacy of 'imported' mpox vaccines

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DOH questions efficacy of 'imported' mpox vaccines

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 15, 2024 08:56 PM PHT

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Updated September 16, 2024 12:58 AM PHT

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MPOX Vaccine

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