DOH to vaccinate 18M children in anti-measles campaign

The Department of Health (DOH) launched on Monday its month-long door-to-door measles vaccination campaign that aims to vaccinate over 18 million children nationwide.

Dubbed "Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas," the vaccination program will run from April 4 to May 4 and will immunize children aged nine months to eight years old. At the launch in Parañaque City, Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona said this is the first nationwide campaign since 2007, and the DOH is aiming to immunize at least 95 percent of all eligible children in the country. A coverage of at least 95 percent is essential because measles is a highly contagious disease, he said, adding that children who miss the routine vaccination have a higher risk of spreading the virus. In 2007, the DOH was able to immunize 87 percent of eligible Filipino children nationwide. The main objective of this year's campaign is to reduce the number of susceptible children that have piled up since the immunization drive in 2007, Ona said. From January to March 2011, more than 2,000 cases of measles have already been recorded by the DOH National Epidemiology Center. Five deaths have been reported. In the first three months of 2011, more than 300 cases were reported in the National Capital Region, most of which were from Manila, Quezon City and Caloocan. Measles cases have also been recorded in Central Luzon, the Bicol Region and CALABARZON, each having over 200 reported measles cases. The number of measles cases has significantly increased in the last three years, from 453 cases in 2007 to 1,418 cases in 2010. More than 70 percent of these cases were among children who had not been vaccinated against measles. In 2010, 30 children died because of measles. Ona said the poor coverage of vaccination programs causes the increase in cases and even outbreaks. He added that the Health Department finds it alarming that children are still dying from measles when vaccines are free and available in health centers. The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the importance of making children "fully immunized," not only from measles but also from other illnesses like polio, chicken pox and hepatitis. WHO Country Representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U said the country should improve its routine immunization system, so that children also get the essential booster shots that they need as they grow older. Dr. Soe Nyunt-U added that one should get at least two measles shots in his lifetime to guarantee that he is protected from the virus. P600M for measles vaccination program The DOH said the measles vaccination program cost roughly P600 million. Ona revealed that the WHO donated $1 million (approximately P44 million) for the program. He added that the cost of the measles vaccines would have been much higher, but the Health Department was able to purchase the measles vaccine at half the price. A bulk of the budget will go to the purchase of the vaccines, syringes and other medical supplies to be used for the program. Part of it is also for incidentals for the 54,000 specially trained vaccination teams that will go around the country. Despite the allocated budget from the national Health Department, Ona also urged local leaders to support the campaign by allocating resources to its barangay health workers and local medical professionals who will conduct the door-to-door program. The DOH is spending an estimated P67 per child for the program, a measly amount compared to as much as P15,000 that a family can spend to treat measles, Ona said. Kris: Vaccination program part of PNoy's universal healthcare plan At the launch, television host and actress Kris Aquino, sister of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, said the measles vaccination program is part of her brother's plan to provide all Filipinos with universal access to health care. She said health programs are especially close to her brother's heart, especially after what their family had gone through when their mother, former President Corazon Aquino, was struck by cancer. She encouraged everyone, especially those who do not have regular access to professional medical services, to participate in the health department's effort. She advised all mothers to open their homes to the vaccination teams and to regularly bring their children to the nearest health centers to avail of other free vaccinations. She also demonstrated onstage the proper way of handwashing, which she said will help prevent the spread of measles and other communicable diseases. She said children should wash not only their hands but also their forearms, adding that handwashing should be at least 20 seconds long, or as long as one round of the song 'Happy Birthday.' Parents should encourage their children to develop the habit of washing their hands before and after meals, before going to bed, and after playing, she said. — RSJ, GMA News