The Department of Health announced that as soon as the H1N1 vaccines are made available through the World Health Organization (WHO), all medical workers and health care providers would get the first shot of the vaccines to prevent getting the disease.

According to WHO director general manager Dr. Margaret Chan, said that some nine million doses of A(H11) for the Philippines as part of an agreement signed by the government and the WHO.

“These medical personnel are at higher risk of getting the disease than ordinary people due to the larger possibility of exposure, plus they may also unknowingly transmit the infections to their families and other patients with other illnesses,” said DOH secretary Francisco Duque.

Duque added that their second priority is the pregnant women because they have ten times the risk of needing intensive care if infected compared to the general population.

After the pregnant women, nest in line are people from 6 months to 59 years old with chronic medical conditions, children five years old and below and adults who are 60 years old and above, healthy or otherwise because they are considered to be at highest risk of severe infection, and the remaining population.

Based on the agreement, Duque cleared that the vaccines are FREE and will only be provided to those who will voluntarily accept to be immunized against H1N1.