DOH: A(H1N1) vaccines are free of charge

Beware of “health workers" asking fees in exchange for administering the A(H1N1) vaccines. The Health Department issued the reminder over the weekend as it stressed the vaccines are to be administered to risk groups for free. “Free iyan, no charge yan (The vaccination is free, there is no charge for it)," Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said in an interview on dzBB radio. Cabral also said people already showing symptoms of A(H1N1) will not need to take the vaccines, saying the vaccines are aimed to prevent one from contracting the virus. Besides, she said those who already have A(H1N1) need only to rest, with the flu usually going away after one week. “Di na mababakuhanan kung may flu. Ang bakuna para di magkaroon noon [flu]. Kung meron na, di na kailangan ang bakuna. [Pero] itong trangkaso generally very mild gumagaling nang kusa in one week (We can no longer vaccinate those with the flu. The vaccine is for those without the virus yet. But those who already have the flu need only to rest. AH1N1 is generally very mild and the patient gets well after a week)," she said. On the other hand, she said pregnant women will be prioritized after frontline health workers because of the risk not just to the mother but to the child in the womb. Last April 26, the DOH started vaccinating some 420,000 frontline health workers against A(H1N1). Cabral assured pregnant women health officials at the village and town levels are working out schedules for vaccinating these risk groups. Earlier, the Health Department said some 2.5 million pregnant women will be on the priority list for vaccination, after some 420,000 health workers at the national and local levels. Subsequent shipments will be given to other priority groups such as children six months to five years old, those 60 years old and above, and those with chronic medical conditions. Some 1.9 million doses of the vaccine arrived during the last week of March and are being shipped to the different regions. Health workers from the regional health offices and local government units have been oriented prior to the distribution of the vaccine. — LBG, GMANews.TV