DOH to provide free routine, catch-up immunization from June 30-July 1

The Department of Health (DOH) will provide free routine and catch-up immunization for infants from June 30, Thursday to July 1, Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said vaccines that may be given to infants include BCG, Hepatitis B, Penatavalent, Oral Polio, Inactivated Polio, Pneumococcal Conjugate, and Measles-Mumps-Rubella.

“Bagamat ito na po ang huling buwan na mayroon tayong Chikiting Vaccination Days, hindi rito magtatapos ang ating routine vaccination campaigns,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(Even though this is the final month of our Chikiting Vaccination Days, our routine vaccination campaign will not end here.)

She emphasized that vaccines remained available and accessible at health centers.

Meanwhile, Vergeire renewed the DOH’s call for President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act or the Vape Bill.

The bill would transfer the regulatory powers over the products from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry.

“Dahil po sa bill na ito, mawawala sa Department of Health at sa Food and Drug Administration ang pagbabantay sa mga pangkalusugang epekto ng mga produktong ito,” she said.

Vergeire stressed that vaping was dangerous for the health.

"Sa bisyo, lalo sa vape at paninigarilyo, wala po tayong panalo. Hindi lang po ito banta sa inyong sariling kalusugan at mga taong nakakalanghap ng inyong secondhand smoke, kundi banta rin po ito sa kalikasan," she said.

(When it comes to vices, especially vaping and smoking, no one wins. This is not only a danger to your health and those who breathe in your secondhand smoke, but also to the environment.) — DVM, GMA News