Vaccination woes: Warning signs up since 2018 — group

A party-list group expressed alarm over the failure of health authorities to quickly address the need for an efficient, massive vaccination program after data showed that the number of measles cases in the country rose by more than 1,000 percent in 2018.

The group Anakalusugan, in a statement, said health officials “should have already seen the trend last year when measles cases increased by more than 1,000 percent.”

DOH data

Michael Defensor, Anakalusugan nominee, also cited Department of Health (DOH) figures saying more than 2 million children have not received measles vaccines.

This led to the deaths of dozens of children nationwide.

Defensor said the group supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to step up the immunization campaign in the wake of the alarming increase in the number of measles cases.

In the National Capital Region alone, 55 children have died of measles which Anakalusugan said should prompt the DOH to respond with urgency.