DOH-7: Anti-rabies vaccines are free

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health has announced that free anti-rabies vaccines are provided to people bitten by dogs in accredited animal bite treatment centers.

DOH-7 said it has distributed to all animal bite treatment centers in Central Visayas the “full course of post exposure prophylaxis” of anti-rabies vaccines which has a total of eight doses.

“These anti-rabies vaccines available are only for post-exposure treatment meaning those that can avail are already exposed to dog bite or scratch. Patients can avail of the rabies vaccines for free. We already give out the vaccines to all designated treatment centers in the different provinces,” said DOH-7 Rabies Program Coordinator Dr. Joanri Riveral.

Getting anti-rabies treatment course in private health institutions will cost one from P5,000 to P6,000 or even higher.

Riveral said there are also at least 45 animal bite centers in the region where patients can avail of free consultation. Of the 45, at least 23 DOH-accredited health centers are established in Cebu Province including Cebu City Health Department, Cebu City Medical Center, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)