Parents urged to support school-based immunization

July 15, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY — Doctors and health officials from the City Health Office and the Department of Health (DOH) urge parents of public school children to support the government’s school-based immunization program to protect their children from measles.
DOH – Cordillera Administrative Region Nurse V Jocelyn Rillorta on Monday said that vaccinations keep children safe by eliminating diseases that spread from child to child.
DOH and the Department of Education signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, series 2019 on March 22, 2019 to prevent a repeat of last year’s measles outbreak making it mandatory for all learners from kindergarten to Grade 6 to be given a second dose of measles vaccine.
The circular order takes effect this school year until September 2019. The move aims to prevent a possible outbreak that was experienced in the country this year.
Data from DOH-CAR shows zero incidence of measles in two Cordillera provinces, namely Abra and Mountain Province from May 16 to June 27, 2019. Baguio recorded a seven percent prevalence rate, where the cases were  recorded in 119 barangays out of the 128; Ifugao with 10%; Kalinga with 25%; Apayao 43% and Benguet 54%.
Baguio City Health Services Officer head Donnabel Tubera said the immunization campaign should be made mandatory and continuous for the protection of children.
“Sabi nga nung mayor namin we can do things in a better way o kaya sa (as our mayor said we can do things in a better way, otherwise) Regional Development Council can come up with a resolution to push for this mandatory immunization at least for this school [year],” Tubera said.
“In a form of policy like in other countries, they already mandate all Grade 1, all incoming school children to have complete immunization, so bago mag-Grade 1 para hindi tayo nagka-campaign,” she said.
 
Argielynne Gem Ramos/PNA/ABN