DUMAGUETE CITY — Department of Health (DOH) authorities in Region 7 (Central Visayas) have lamented the low turnout of children availing of the government’s measles immunization program in the four provinces of Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol and Negros Oriental.
“We have a big problem with regards our immunization program because of the Dengvaxia controversy since last year that’s why we need media’s help in informing our populace in disseminating the information that the vaccine for measles is safe, potent and effective since more than three decades ago with no record of serious side effects,” Dr. Socrates Villamor of the DOH provincial unit said during Monday’s press briefing here.
In response to the increasing number of measles cases in Negros Oriental since the last quarter of 2017, DOH is conducting the supplemental immunization activity (SIA) or the Ligtas Tigdas Plus all over the region and the entire country from Oct. 22 to Nov. 23.
Measles or “tipdas” in the vernacular is a highly infectious disease that can afflict 18 to 20 other people in a day just from one person.
The target population for the measles immunization activity is children aged 6-59 months.
Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion reported that as of Nov. 3, 2018, the province has a total of 169 cases of measles recorded with zero deaths compared to only 12 cases during the same period last year — an increase of 1,308 percent — with victims aged one year to 44 years old.
Topping the list of affected areas is Dumaguete City with 47 cases, followed by Bacong with 28 cases; Sibulan — 18; Bayawan — 11; Siaton — 10; Sta. Catalina — 6; Ayungon and Tanjay City — 5 cases each; Bais City, Mabinay, Pamplona, San Jose and Tayasan– 4 cases each; Amlan, Dauin, La Libertad — 3 cases each; Jimalalud, Valencia and Vallehermoso — 2 cases each; and Bindoy, Canlaon City, Manjuyod and Zamboanguita — one case each.
Under DOH parameters, an outbreak is declared even if there is only one confirmed case of measles.
A low turnout was recorded on the number of children immunized with measles vaccine late last year because of the Dengvaxia controversy and maybe because the immunization was selective or only for those whom the vaccinators missed, according to Dr. Estacion.
In one instance, out of the targeted 90 children in one public school in Negros Oriental, only one parent signed a consent for his child to be given the measles vaccine. The same is true with other schools during the school-based immunization program.
In Siquijor province, provincial health officer Mrs. Daisy Boac reported a total of 47 measles cases from January up to October this year.
She said supplemental immunization was conducted from Oct. 22, 2018 to present in 12 barangays in the municipality of Siquijor and in one barangay in the town of Maria.
For Dumaguete, city health officer Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla said an immunization activity is being conducted in 16 barangays where measles cases are prevalent. She noted that 1,065 children had been immunized or approximately 11.2 percent of the targeted population.
Dr. Jeanette Pauline Cortes, DOH Medical Officer IV, said measles per se can be cured but it can result in death because of pneumonia and infection of the brain and ears which are the possible complications of the disease. She stressed that the only way to protect children against it is through immunization.
She thus appealed to mothers to have their children vaccinated against measles as well as polio. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
