ILOILO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas will help monitor children who were immunized with the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
Western Visayas was not among the three regions that served as pilot areas for the school-based dengue immunization program in 2016.
However, Dr. Reynilyn Reyes, head of family, health and nutrition cluster of DOH-Western Visayas, said they will just indicate in their surveillance if the patient has availed of the dengue vaccine when it was administered in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the National Capital Region, and selected cities in the country for monitoring purposes.
In the meantime, those who availed of the vaccine from private clinics are advised to seek recommendations from the pediatricians who administered the vaccination, she said.
On Nov. 29, Sanofi Pasteur, manufacturer of Dengvaxia, disclosed that a vaccinated child may suffer from severe dengue if he/she has not had dengue before getting the immunization.
The dengue vaccination program was suspended by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last week. (PNA)
