Former Health Secretary and House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin has criticized the Department of Health (DOH) for delays in procuring flu vaccines. According to Garin, individuals should have already received the flu vaccine by now, given the current flu season.
Garin’s remarks followed reports that the procurement of flu vaccines has been delayed for the fifth time, with the process initially scheduled for the first quarter of the year.
She explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) selects the flu vaccine types each year, and receiving the vaccine as late as December would render it ineffective for this flu season.
“The flu vaccine is designed based on the serotype determined by WHO at the start of the year. If the vaccine arrives in December, it will be useless because the prevailing serotype will have changed by then,” said Rep. Garin.
She added that flu season runs from August to November, making timely vaccination crucial.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal flu vaccines are selected each year based on various data, including epidemiologic, genetic, and antigenic information.
Garin emphasized that the optimal time for flu vaccination is in June or before the rainy season.
She also highlighted the need for annual flu vaccinations and urged the DOH to provide free flu vaccines by May, as recommended by health experts and groups.