Gov’t cool on mandatory vaccination of children amid measles outbreak

The government is not keen on implementing mandatory vaccination of children, particularly infants, amid the measles outbreak in some parts of the country, a Malacañang official said Friday.

The Department of Health earlier declared a measles outbreak in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Central Visayas due to spike in cases recently.

In Metro Manila alone, measles cases rose by 550 percent from January 1 to February 6 this year compared to the same period last year.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, however, said there is no need to conduct massive vaccination as such move might be questioned in the courts.

Nograles said the government should instead focus on boosting communication efforts on the importance of vaccination as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"I think all we need to do is step up the drive, the Department of Health has to step up its drive and involve the local government units," Nograles said at a press briefing. "I think the LGUs play a very critical and important part in this immunization program and other programs of government."

Apart from the DOH, the Presidential Communications Operations Office will also be involved in the information drive, Nograles said.

Duterte expressed concern over the drop in immunization coverage in the country from an average of 70 percent in the past years to 40 percent in 2018 as public apprehension over mass vaccination came to the fore following deaths allegedly linked to the dengue vaccine called Dengvaxia. — RSJ, GMA News