De Lima wants probe on potential measles outbreak amid vaccines scare

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Leila de Lima has called for a Senate inquiry into the reported potential measles outbreak in some parts of the country.

According to De Lima, the possible outbreak may be worsened by the continued refusal of some parents to have their child vaccinated a year after the Dengvaxia controversy, placing more children at risk of acquiring deadly diseases, like measles.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 966, De Lima said “it is incumbent upon the government to guarantee and uphold the general welfare of its people by ensuring that the Filipinos are rightly and adequately informed about the benefits of immunization from preventable diseases and be duly educated and aware about its importance especially to the Filipino youth.”

As a result of the Dengvaxia controversy, the senator noted that many people now refuse to avail of the government’s free vaccines which resulted in a low vaccination coverage in most regions in the country.

This was confirmed by Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo, noting that the Department of Health (DOH) has not reached its vaccination rate target of 85 to 90 percent because 60 percent of Filipino children are not getting their scheduled vaccines.

This prompted De Lima to ask the DOH to institute measures to insulate the government’s immunization program from the controversy hounding the Dengvaxia program.

“In order to prepare for the threats and fatal effects of the possible pandemic impact of measles and other infectious diseases, the government must not only ensure that proper health care is delivered, but at the same time, relieve the general public from unwarranted fears of vaccination and lead them back into trusting government efforts in promoting and protecting the health of every Filipino,” she said.

Last Nov. 29, the DOH has confirmed that it is monitoring a suspected outbreak in Sarangani after 18 Lumad children were reported to have possibly died from measles.

Prior to the reported outbreak in Sarangani, De Lima said it was likewise declared in Negros Oriental, Zamboanga City, Davao Region, Davao City and a barangay in Taguig City.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, vaccines “also make economic sense [because it] prevent illness, freeing up precious resources to invest in strong health system. Vaccination can also promote a stronger workforce and prevent losses in productivity.” /muf