THE CITY Health Office- Animal Bite Treatment Center (CHO-ABTC) fears residents will have to pay “out of pocket” once free anti-rabies vaccine falls short mid-year.
ABTC district health physician Yleona Ysabel Camelotes the center only has an available 4,000 free anti-rabies vaccine vials this year, which is estimated to be running out mid-year.
Camelotes said the 4,000 vials can only accommodate “more or less 1,000” patients, depending on the needs of each patient.
“Usually end of mid-year nagkakaubusan na tayo niyan, syempre hindi lang kasi one time pupunta si patient, we have three doses, tapos depende pa sa vaccines kung anong ibibigay,” Camelotes said during the Ispeak media forum on Thursday.
This she added is on top of the injection fee which costs around P300-P400, and immunoglobulin if the patient manifests an allergic reaction.
Camelotes said the provision of vaccines also has to consider animal bite categories, where Category 3 requires immunoglobulin, which can be very expensive when availed outside of the public center.
Meanwhile, Category 1 patients do not require vaccination, hence they can do pre-exposure prophylaxis in which cases are usually referred to private centers. For Category 2 patients, the ABTC can cater depending on the wounds.
Patients may seek assistance from the Lingap Para sa Mahirap Program of the City Mayor’s Office, however, if assistance falls short, they will have to spend from their own pocket.
Camelotes added that there is a high demand for animal bite vaccines, especially during summer, when animals can be “very aggressive” due to the heat.
The ABTC catered to 48,483 patients in the whole year of 2024, with daily visits averaging about 100 new patients, and an average of more than 300 weekly.
Camelotes said around 30,000 are 15 years old and above, while for 15 years old and below, there were 18,264. In 2024, the center also recorded 3 deaths aged 32, 45, and 56 years old, all from dog bites.
Recently, the CHO launched a new ABTC site in Cabantian, a new addition to eight sites namely in Toril, Mintal, Sasa, Calinan, Marilog District Hospital, Bunawan, Paquibato District Hospital, and the main CHO headquarters.
