NCR health centers devote longer hours for anti-measles vaccination

Extended hours for anti-measles vaccination is scheduled to start this Saturday in some cities in the National Capital Region, as part of the Health department’s aggressive immunization drive to curb the measles outbreak.

The Department of Health (DOH) met with Metro Manila mayors in efforts to address the outbreak believed to be partly caused by the decline in public confidence in the government’s immunization program.

“Balitanghali Weekend” reported that several health centers in Parañaque, Malabon, Quezon City, Navotas, Manila, San Juan, and Muntinlupa have committed to start extended clinic hours for measles vaccination.

Extended vaccination schedule in some NCR health centers include:

• Parañaque - Saturday and Sunday
• Malabon - Saturday and Sunday
• Quezon City - Saturday (8-12 noon)
• Navotas - Saturday
• Manila - Saturday
• San Juan - Saturday
• Muntinlupa - Saturday (only one health center)

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said some health centers have vowed to extend their measles immunization hours next week.

Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) expressed hopes that the measles outbreak in the country would be addressed sooner than the two to three months projection.

Last week, the DOH declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon and Visayas. 

It also took note of a drop in the measles immunization coverage due to the decline in public confidence in the government's vaccination program following the controversy over anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases projected that the measles outbreak could last until June.

In response, the DOH has launched house-to-house vaccination efforts in order to curb the spike in the number of measles cases. —LBG, GMA News