Children avail of free vaccination against measles-rubella and polio on a Mobile Bus Vaccine Clinic at Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, during a mass vaccination campaign lead by the Philippine Red Cross on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Get your children vaccinated against measles to prevent outbreaks when they start attending in-person classes in November, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda urged parents on Tuesday.
“The DOH said that only 63% of children and infants are fully immunized from measles, out of a target 95%. That’s an epidemic waiting to happen especially once you get these children together in closed spaces like schools. School could spread measles faster. By then, our guards against other diseases would also have lowered,” Salceda said.
Salceda issued the statement after the World Health Organization warned the public earlier this week of a possible outbreak as vaccination rates had decreased.
Vaccination against other diseases decreased when the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to stay home — so that their children skipped visits to their pediatricians for check-ups.
Salceda noted that the start of face-to-face classes presents an opportunity to get children vaccinated right at the schools, with the help of the local government units, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education.
The lawmaker said that herd immunity would be achieved if 94 percent could be vaccinated against the disease.
“It’s a good time to explain to PTAs the risks and the protections that come with the measles vaccine. Informed consent is very important. It builds trust and in the long-run would be a better way to encourage more vaccinations,” he said.
“In the long run, we need to build capacity for vaccinating against common diseases. That is one function that an institutionalized Center for Disease Control can boost.”
—WITH A REPORT FROM ALYSSA JOY QUEVEDO (TRAINEE)
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