The Department of Health-Zamboanga (DOH-9) said anti-rabies vaccines at the different Animal Bite Treatment Centers in the region are running short.

DOH-9 said the supply will only last until July 2024.

It added that the supply has been short for the past several days, prompting the agency to purchase vaccines from private pharmacies in the meantime.

However, DOH-9 said the procurement of vaccines amounting to P4.2 million has already been made and are expected to be delivered to the different treatment centers in the region starting this month.

“We have tight supply for ARV not only in the region but for the entire country. We have already distributed our supply here at the regional cold chain to the ABTCs and we are expecting delivery po ng regional procurement of ARV and also we are in communication with the central office for the downloading of additional ARV,” Dr. Augusto Manolo Alpichi, chief of the DOH-Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development, said.

In Zamboanga City, more than 12,000 animal bite cases were recorded in the first half of 2024. In 2023, the city logged over 16,000 cases.

DOH-9 said cases usually go up during hot season like March, April, and May since animals are said to be irritable when the weather is hot.

Health authorities reminded the public to seek medical attention and get a shot against rabies once bitten by animals.

“First of all kung makagat ng aso or pusa, or anong animal , dapat yung first aid doon is ipa-labas ang dugo and the wash it with clean water and soap and then punta sa pinakamalapit na ABTC and they can be advised kung ano ang gagawin,” DOH-9 Director, Dr. Joshua Brillantes, said.