DOH kicks off intensified vaccination campaign against measles

The Department of Health launched its "Goodbye, Tigdas Libreng Bakuna" vaccination campaign Thursday in a bid to keep measles from spreading in Luzon.

 

"May pagkakataon ngayon, kung 'di ka nabakunahan nung 2011, 2012, 2013, ngayon-ngayon sale. Pumunta na kayo! Libre!" Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, DOH spokesman, said in report on "24 Oras" aired Thursday evening.

 

During the campaign, which will run until Feb.3, children aged six months to three years will be given free vaccinations in health centers in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Bulacan, and Pampanga. 

 

The DOH is focusing on the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon because of the high number of measles cases reported there.



According to the report, NCR has 785 reported cases, Calabarzon has 258, and Central Luzon has 44.

 

Although vaccines against measles are available all year, the DOH hopes to vaccinate more children by February.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is helping the DOH monitor measles cases in the country.

 

"When we (saw) cases rise, we (knew) that there must be a lot of children who have not been protected from measles. Perhaps they've missed some doses, [or] they've not been able to come to the clinics and get their vaccine shots, or they perhaps come from other parts of the country," said Dr. Julie Hall, WHO country representative. — JDS, GMA News