THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 encouraged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles and polio in local health centers as part of their month-long immunization campaign this month.
There were 44,000 cases of measles in January to August this year, with 16,000 cases confirmed and 91 deaths reported.
DOH 7 Assistant Director Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi said during the Kapihan sa PIA last Wednesday morning that the country has been polio-free since 2000.
But this should not be a reason for the public to let their guard down.
The campaign was launched last Sept. 1 in Bohol and Negros.
Children who are 6 to 11 months old will receive one dose of the vaccine while children 12 months old and above receive two doses.
According to a partial report by DOH 7, the target number of children to be vaccinated against polio is 98,930 and for measles 844,000 in the entire region.
DOH 7 is negotiating with officials of remote areas to take their children to health centers to be vaccinated.
Fixed venues, such as chapels and health centers, are open whole day, and if immunization cannot be completed, health workers have to do a door-to-door vaccination.
DOH 7 Child Health Program coordinator Dr. Emmelie Pflieder-Silao said there are enough vaccines against both diseases. She encourages parents to avail themselves of it since it’s free.
In line with the vaccine campaign is the celebration of September as Generics Month.
Supply
Republic Act 6675, or the Generics Act, aims “to promote, require and ensure the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names.”
“This is important especially for senior citizens,” Dr. Sophia Mancao, of DOH 7, said.
Mancao said it is the responsibility of the doctor to issue the prescription and of the pharmacist to see if the prescription is right.
Last April, suspected carriers of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS-CoV, were admitted in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Dr. Dino Caing, Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit head, said the country is free from Ebola virus. He said the virus can be prevented by practicing proper hygiene.
DOH 7 is on guard in airports and seaports for possible carriers of Ebola virus.
For preventive measures, questionnaires are answered by people coming in the country to determine if they have the symptoms of the virus.
As of today, there is still no cure for Ebola. Franz Correa, USJ-R Mass Com Intern