DOH-7 underscores importance of vaccine vs pertussis, measles

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health and Development (DOH CV CHD) has emphasized the critical importance of vaccine to mitigate and curb the escalation of vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis, measles, and other ailments.

Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, Regional Epidemiologist of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), said that elevating immunization coverage is part of the DOH's comprehensive 8-point action agenda.

“Actually ni taas ang mga kaso sa pertussis that is why we are actively monitoring the different LGUs of Central Visayas. Kini ang gitawag nga vaccine preventable because kung magpabakuna ang mga bata, dal-on sa mga nanay tungod kay adunay mga vaccines. Nisaka ang mga vaccine preventable diseases because since 2018 niubos ang bakuna, niubos atoang mga bata na dal-on sa mga inahan aron magpabakuna,” said Cañal.

She said that the herd immunity has already been breached because of the low immunization percentage in each of the LGUs in Central Visayas.

“That’s why part of DOH’s 8-point Action Agenda of the Secretary of Health is to increase to 95% of our immunization,” she said.

Pertussis, commonly known as "whooping cough," is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a highly contagious bacterial infection affecting the respiratory system. It manifests initially with symptoms akin to those of a common cold, progressing to severe coughing fits with a characteristic "whooping" sound.

The mode of transmission primarily occurs through respiratory droplets from infected individuals.  —/FPL (FREEMAN)