Palace urges parents to have children immunized vs measles

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday urged parents to have their children immunized against measles as the Philippines face the risk of having an outbreak in 2021.

In an online briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque allayed parents’ fears, saying vaccines against measles have long been proven safe for children.

“Ang mensahe po ng Presidente mga magulang, huwag po natin katakutan ang bakuna. Itong bakuna naman po sa measles, isa na sa mga pinakaluma, pinakamaagang ginagamit na natin,” Roque said.

(The President’s message to parents, we should not fear vaccines. This vaccine against measles is one of the oldest and most used.)

“Bakit pa po natin i-eexpose sa aberya ang mga minamahal natin sa buhay na mga tsikiting? E samantalang meron naman po tayong tried and proven na bakuna laban dyan,” he added.

(Why should we expose our children to danger when we have a tried and proven vaccine against that?)

The Department of Health’s National Immunization Program Manager Dr. Wilda Silva said all provinces of the country are at high-risk for a measles outbreak.

Silva said it was critical that an estimate of 2.4 million children under the age of five be immunized against measles to prevent this from happening.

The national vaccination program against measles and polio will start on October 26.

/MUF