MANGATAREM, Pangasinan–Sixteen children from Mangatarem are now being keenly monitored by health authorities after they have been found to have been administered with the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ana Ma. Teresa de Guzman clarified that these children were given Dengvaxia vaccination although the province of Pangasinan nor any part of Region 1 was not covered by the anti-dengue school based vaccination using the Dengvaxia.
Only covered by the vaccination were school children from Region III, National Capital Region (NCR) and Region IV-A.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) said that based on the report of the Municipal Health Office of Mangatarem, 16 children from the town received the Dengvaxia vaccine.
The PHO reported that six of these children were administered Dengvaxia by private clinics while 10 others were vaccinated through the regular school vaccination program in San Clemente, Tarlac.
The 10 school children were going to school in San Clemente, a town in Tarlac just south of Mangatarem, Pangasinan.
The PHO directed continuous monitoring of the children administered with Dengvaxia so they could be assisted immediately in case they exhibit dengue symptoms.
So far, there is no report of any of the vaccinated children getting sick.
De Guzman, meanwhile, called on parents to continue submitting their children for vaccination to ensure their protection against measles, chicken pox as well as hepatitis.
She allayed the fears of parents of possible complications from vaccination.
De Guzman said the traditional vaccination being administered by PHO and the Department of Health passed through many tests and did not result in any complications. (Ahicam Pasion/PNA)
