A HEALTH official in Cebu is having doubts on the Department of Health’s (DOH) plan to distribute dengue vaccines to cities and towns in the province.
Dr. Rene Catan, Cebu provincial health director, said that despite DOH's earlier announcement that it plans to initiate school-based distribution of the vaccine, it suddenly shifted to community-based distribution without informing the local government health units about it.
More than 400,000 dengue vaccines are set to be distributed to the towns and cities in the province, adding that it will be up to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and the Provincial Health Board (PHB) to settle the matter.
Another issue that Catan wants settled is the safety and efficacy of the vaccine once it is successfully administered.
The health officer said that while the DOH wants to administer the vaccine to children 9 years old and above, children ages 8 years and below are the most affected when it comes to dengue.
He also wants to know if the vaccine is indeed safe for use.
In a press conference Monday, July 4, Davide told reporters he also wants to know from DOH on how effective and safe the vaccine is if administered to children.
Davide added that he and PHB wants to get the DOH's feedback as a way to assure their constituents on the vaccine's effectiveness in combating dengue.