Duterte will campaign for vaccination

Duterte will campaign for vaccination

MANILA, Philippines – In the measles epidemic, President Duterte is directly involved in the information campaign aimed at restoring public confidence in the government's immunization program, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary, Martin Andanar, said the president would convey a message on the importance of immunization in one of his speeches.

"I heard that the president would help (Secretary of Health, Francisco Duque III) to restore public confidence in the immunization program of the Ministry of Health and that the president himself would contribute to communications" Andanar told Radyo Pilipinas last Saturday.

"I think he'll say something in one of the next events," he added.

Andanar said his agency would "actively support" the Ministry of Health's information campaign.

"We will help them in their vaccination program, which has been affected by the problem of dengvaxie … Other vaccination programs have also been affected. Several diseases such as measles and pneumonia could have been avoided (if children were vaccinated), "said Andanar.

Last year, the country's vaccination rate went from 70% on average to 40% in recent years. Officials blamed the decline on the controversy over dengvaxia, which erupted after it was revealed that the vaccine may have put recipients who have never had dengue fever at risk of contracting more serious illnesses.

Duque attributed the measles outbreak in various parts of the country to panic caused by the Dengvaxia fiasco.

Last week, Duterte ordered agencies to launch a "vigorous" information campaign to promote the government's immunization program.

Vaccination required

The House of Representatives yesterday urged officials to stop blaming each other for the measles epidemic in the country, but instead work to restore the Filipinos' confidence in the government's immunization programs.

"At the moment, the most important message – the only message – that we need to hear from everyone is to badure mothers. Convince mothers to vaccinate their children, "said the representative of the Vice President of the Chamber, Pia Cayetano, in a mixture of English and Filipino.

"As we speak, while we point fingers, we discuss, the babies are dying," said Taguig's representative, who will try to be re-elected to the Senate in the May 13 elections, when of an interview in La Trinidad, Benguet. during the weekend.

Cayetano, lead author and sponsor of the Compulsory Infant and Child Vaccination Act or Republic Act 10152, emphasized the urgent need to end the parents' "general distrust" of the government's mandatory immunization program.

"Since I've heard about the measles epidemic, I stress its needs when I talk to mothers, hoping to give them the feeling of self-confidence to vaccinate their children." said Cayetano.

Representatives Mikee Romero from 1Pacman, Bernadette Dy from Bagong Henerasyon, Neil Abayon from Aangat Tayo, Salvador Belaro Jr. from 1-Ang Edukasyon and Ron Salo from Kabayan also made similar calls. .

"Hurry up. This (blame game) is the last thing we need at this stage. Let us help each other in the fight against this epidemic. We need all possible help. Now is the time to build a united front for our children to be safe, "said Romero.

Dy, aware of Australian news that a child in Manila is carrying the virus, has called for civil aviation protocols to screen airline pbadengers to prevent the virus from spreading.

"The goal now is to prevent measles from spreading to the rest of the country, to the world," said Dy.

Abayon, a registered nurse by profession, has asked the Department of Health to make public the names of areas where measles cases have been confirmed, so that local authorities can take appropriate measures to control its spread.

Belaro urged the Ministry of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to urge all school officials to take measles precautions for the health and safety of their students and faculty.

"Schools can be outbreaks of measles and other contagious diseases because of the population density and vulnerability of children and adolescents because of their state of health, so precautions are needed" said Belaro.

Salo, for his part, said poor families whose members were infected with measles can benefit from coverage offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. for the needy. He urged families to immediately go to the hospital when they notice the symptoms of measles in their household.

"PhilHealth will be there for the needy families. Measles is covered by PhilHealth. It is important for doctors to examine and treat patients. Life and health are precious, "said Salo in English and Filipino. – With Delon Porcalla