Anti-measles immunization launched in Pangasinan

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1051124
• Thursday, October 18, 2018

By Liwayway Yparraguirre (PNA)

ROSALES, Pangasinan -- The Department of Health (DOH) office in Region 1 (Ilocos region) encouraged parents to avail of immunization for their children during the launching of the Phase 2 of Ligtas Tigdas Supplemental Immunization Activity Plus 2018 at SM City here on Sunday.

Dr. Maria Wilda Silva, National Immunization Program (NIP) National Program Manager from DOH central office, said they chose the mall as the launch venue to take the opportunity to explain not only to the captured audience, but also mall-goers from Pangasinan and nearby towns of Tarlac the importance of immunization to the children.

Silva said vaccinations against measles started in 1963, in 1969 for rubella, 1997 for mumps, and 1963 for the oral polio vaccine.

She said polio in the Philippines was eliminated since year 2000, but there is a threat of possible outbreak because of what happened in Papua New Guinea and Lao People's Democratic Republic.

"We've eliminated polio and don't want it back. For Hepatitis B, we have a program in which we call on all birthing centers and midwives that the Hepa birth dose must be given to the newborn child within 24 hours. If this is administered correctly and given to the child within the right time, vertical transmission is prevented," she added.

Silva said there are a lot of vaccines preventing diseases hence, the DOH is building again the trust and good relationship between the community and the vaccinators.

“It's not looking good, the number of children who are brought to the health centers for vaccines decreased. The usual reasons are: because of dengvaxia controversy, parents got scared of immunization for their children, both parents are working and the child is left to a babysitter who can’t decide whether to immunize the child during mobile immunization programs, (and) there are still misconceptions such as allow the measles to break out before immunizing the child, what they do not know is the child might die due to complications,” she said.

She added that anti-polio vaccine is being given to children aged 0 to 59 months, while the measles vaccine is being administered to children aged six months to 59 months.

In Region 1, there were three confirmed measles cases in 2017, of which two were from La Union province and one from Pangasinan.

There were no reported casualties.

In 2018, a total of 29 cases have been recorded.

Silva told the parents that the immunization or vaccination is free.

"Tayo ay nagtatrabaho ng husto para ang ating budget sa bakuna ay tuloy-tuloy na maibibigay ng pamahalaan (We are working hard for our budget, so that the immunization program of the government will continue,)," she said.

Silva led the ceremonial polio and measles vaccination to a number of children present during the launch, while others would receive the vaccines at their respective Rural Health Units.