DOH to launch measles vaccination in schools
MANILA, Philippines — To prevent an increase in the number of measles cases this summer, the Department of Health (DOH) will launch an immunization drive in schools.
“We are targeting the vaccination of schoolchildren... before school closes on April 5,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said yesterday.
Duque said kindergarden to Grade 6 pupils are the targets of the school-based immunization campaign.
He said the DOH would employ a selective method of immunization, which means those who received two doses would not be covered.
Duque said children aged six months to four years in areas where outbreaks were declared or an increase in cases have been reported were recently vaccinated against measles regardless of their immunization status.
The number of measles cases nationwide rose to 11,459 with 189 deaths since January.
“We continue to appeal to mothers and caregivers of children from kindergarten to Grade 6 to have them vaccinated against measles, a tried and tested vaccine. Let us give our children a fighting chance to have a bright future,” Duque said.
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