MANILA — In response to the measles outbreak in Metro Manila, the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) is now conducting anti-measles vaccination drive in several barangays and health centers, an official said Thursday.
QCHD chief, Dr. Verdades Linga, said the vaccination campaign is the city’s response to ensure that children aged six months to five years old receive free measles immunization.
“Mayroon tayong binibigay na additional na bakuna kontra tigdas upang maiwasan natin ‘yung transmission ng virus (We are giving additional vaccines against measles so that we will prevent the transmission of the virus),” Linga said in an interview.
From January 1 to Feb. 9, 2019, the QCHD reported a total of 396 cases of measles with 12 deaths.
As of Feb. 12, 2019, the QCHD has already vaccinated 14,151 children throughout the city.
Aside from immunization, the children also received Vitamin A supplements and deworming tablets.
Meanwhile, the QCHD is urging all parents to have their children, aged six months to five years, vaccinated as soon as possible in the nearest health centers.
“Bakuna pa rin ang makakapigil sa pagkalat ng sakit, lalo na ngayong may outbreak, (The anti-measles vaccine can still prevent the spread of the disease, especially so that there’s now an outbreak),” Linga said.
