By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday urged parents anew to have their children vaccinated to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Ang pagpapabakuna po ay maglilikha ng mga malulusog na bata at maiiwasan po ang karagdagang gastos sa pagpapaospital. Kahit may pondo ang PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) hindi naman nito kakayanin ang sabay-sabay at palagiang pagkakasakit ng mamamayan(Immunization will produce healthy children and additional hospitalization expenses can be avoided. The PhilHealth will have difficulty financing simultaneous and continuous hospitalization of everyone even if it has funds),” he said in his speech before Baseco residents in Manila City in celebration of World Immunization Week.
“Immunization is a big part of universal health care. The health of every Filipino is dependent on the expanded program on immunization of the Department of Health,” he added.
Manila City Health Officer Benjie Yson reported that Manila’s immunization coverage percentage is higher for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the last quarter of 2018.
“Mababa nung nakaraang taon sa 11 percent lang pero ngayong taon 19 percent na po dahil sa pagtutulungn lalo na po ng mga barangay health worker, ng mga magulang, nating lahat (It was low last year at 11 percent only but this year, it’s now 19 percent because of the collaboration of barangay health workers, parents, all of us),” he said.
World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Gundo Weiler said he is delighted that the DOH chose to celebrate the World Immunization Week in the community.
“Baseco is one of the barangays where we haven’t had new measles cases for the past weeks. Baseco rocks!,” he said, adding that such scenario is a proof that vaccines work.
Weiler also lauded Baseco residents for “reacting smartly to address the measles outbreak in their area”.
The WHO supports countries across the region in efforts to vaccinate all children and strengthen their outbreak preparation and response.
It also encourages countries to address the reasons why children are not being vaccinated in some communities by combating misinformation and improving understanding of the importance and safety of vaccines.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Health Procurement Services Specialist Carla Orozco urged the parents of Baseco to continue “observing the vaccination schedules to stop the occurrence of diseases and deaths among children”.
“Kapag binakunahan ang mga anak ninyo, pinoprotektuhan ninyo ibang miyembro ng komunidad na hindi pa maaring bakunahan (When you have your children vaccinated, you are protecting the other members of community who can’t be vaccinated yet),” she added.
Duque said the increase in the immunization coverage percentage in Manila is not yet enough to stop the spread of deadly but vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Pinasasalamatan ko rin ang mga immunization heroes na mga barangay health workers. Patuloy po nating hanapin ang mga batang kulang sa bakuna, iyong mga galing sa probinsiya, para maubos ang mga defaulters (I also thank the immunization heroes who are the barangay health workers. Let’s continue to find the unvaccinated children, those who came from the provinces, to immunize all the defaulters),” he said.
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