DOH tells parents: Bring children to health centers for measles vaccination

Warning that measles can be deadly especially to children, the Department of Health on Friday appealed to parents to bring their children to health centers for free vaccination.

In posts on his Twitter account, National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag said measles is a contagious viral disease.

"Karaniwang mga batang edad 10 taon pababa ang mga tinatamaan. Nakakamatay ang tigdas (Children 10 and below are susceptible to the disease. Measles is deadly)," Tayag said 

@DOHgovph urges mothers to bring their children to health centers for free measles vaccination for Children 6 months to 18 months old

— Doc Eric Tayag (@erictayagSays) January 2, 2014

Measles vaccination is free in health centers nationwide, he said.

He said measles commonly spreads among young children and even adults. It is highly contagious.

Tayag said the symptoms of measles include:

- red eyes
- runny nose
- cough along with fever that can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius
- after two days, reddish, raised rashes behind the ears that spread to cover head thru whole body.

You spread #measles thru cough or direct contact with body secretions/fluids. It usually takes 10 days after exposure before illness begins

— Doc Eric Tayag (@erictayagSays) January 2, 2014

He suggested that parents bring down fever with paracetamol and sponge bath to prevent the onset of convulsions, and to get rid of the thick discharges from the nose.

Also, he said parents should count a child's inhalations, noting a child less than five years old with more than 40 breaths per minute may have pneumonia.

#measles cause deaths due to severe pneumonia or severe dehydration along diarrhea Infants & young children w/ measles shd be in a hospital

— Doc Eric Tayag (@erictayagSays) January 2, 2014

Last December, the DOH started a massive vaccination campaign in Metro Manila to protect children from the disease.

"This is to ensure that virus transmission will be averted. We have an adequate amount of vaccines to provide everyone who needs to be immunized,” Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said at the time. — LBG, GMA News