DOH: Minimum health protocols have helped prevent spread of measles, polio

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said that following minimum health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic has also helped prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and polio.

In a media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, citing reports from health experts, said that complying with minimum public health standards have helped control and prevent the increase of these diseases.

“Mababa po ang nakikita nating mga datos na vaccine-preventable disease dahil po, unang una, sa tingin po ng ating mga eksperto at marami na rin pong pag-aaral ang lumabas na talagang nakatulong ang minimum public health standards sa control or pag-prevent ng pagtaas ng iba’t ibang infectious diseases,” Vergeire said.

(We see low numbers of vaccine-preventable disease because, first of all, our experts believe and many studies have shown that minimum public health standards have really helped in controlling or preventing the increase of these infectious diseases.)

“We know that measles is airborne, we know that other diseases like polio ay nakukuha sa tubig o sa ating mga hygienic practices, and we know that everybody is washing their hands at laging nag-a-alcohol, so nakakabawas po talaga yan,” she added.

(We know that measles is airborne, we know that other diseases like polio are transmitted in water or from our hygienic practices and we know that everybody is always washing their hands and always using alcohol, so that really helped.)

The Health undersecretary also acknowledged that there was a possible under- reporting of these diseases, as healthcare workers focus on COVID-19 response.

“Sa isang banda maari nawala rin po ng access sa serbisyo na non-COVID ang ating mga kababayan at maari rin nagkaroon ng under-reporting ang iba sa mga kaso natin dahil nga po nakafocus po ang ating mga healthcare workers sa ating COVID-19 response,” she said.

(On the one hand, the public may have lost some access to non-COVID services and there may be under-reporting of other illnesses because our healthcare workers have focused on our COVID-19 response.)

She said that the cumulative total of 26 measles cases recorded from January to March 5, 2022 was low compared to the previous years before COVID-19 pandemic.

“Para naman sa polio, meron lang tayo 79 na mga kaso na nakita natin ngayon taon from January to March and this is really not polio, this is acute flaccid paralysis; kailangan pang ikumpirma yan kung polio po talaga yan,” she added.

(As for polio, we only have 79 cases that we saw this year from January to March and this is really not polio, this is acute flaccid paralysis, we still need to confirm if it is really polio.)

Vergeire said the DOH will strengthen supplemental immunization starting April until June to prevent spread of these diseases among children especially during the summer months.

Meanwhile, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana encouraged parents to bring their children to pediatric clinics and centers open to get immunized against these diseases.

“Dahil nagbubukas na tayo marami nang pedia clinics ang open so sa mga magulang please bring your kids for catch-up vaccination, that does not start from scratch naman eh, kahit ma-delay, okay lang yan basta mahabol. So very important na please bring your babies and kids to their check-ups para mahabol natin yung vaccinations nila,” Salvana explained.

(Since we are already easing restrictions, many pediatric clinics are open. Parents, please bring your kids for catch-up vaccination. These are not starting from scratch, so even if they're delayed, it's okay as long as you catch up. So it is very important to please bring your babies and kids to their check-ups so that we can catch up with their vaccinations.) — BM, GMA News