DOH intensifies surveillance of Dengvaxia immunized kids in CALABARZON

STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna –Health Secretary Dr. Francisco T. Duque III on Thursday confirmed that 2,994 Dengvaxia-vaccinated children from the more than 4,000 immunized children in the CALABARZON region, are under heightened surveillance and close-monitoring by the Department of Health (DOH).

Duque, however, said there was no report on dengue cases so far in this city and praised the city government officials’ effective governance and health management services.

At this city’s “Dengvaxia Forum” held at the Central 3 Elementary School, Duque  said the heightened surveillance and close monitoring, include documentation on case investigation on Dengvaxia-immunized children in the CALABARZON region comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

“We have a policy, ang tawag dito, adverse events following immunization. Ito po ay binabantayan originally within 30 days post-vaccination. Kahit na anong reaction na lumalabas, inililista po yon. Yon po ay ibinibigay, nakatago po yong records (we have a policy called “adverse events following immunization”. This is being closely observed originally within 30 days post-vaccination. Any reaction that manifests is being recorded. This is the data given and is kept on record),” Duque said during the open forum.

The health secretary, however, said that there were changes in their heightened surveillance and monitoring operations.

“May pagbabago tayo. Hindi lang 30 days, even beyond 30 days kaya nga part of our heightened surveillance is a longer more extensive monitoring and networking. So, pwede namang hindi siya patungkol sa dengue, pero kailangan din nating malaman kung ano ba yung reaksiyon na yon. Para lang makasiguro tayo (we have an enhanced (policy). It is not only 30 days, even beyond 30 days since part of our heightened surveillance is a longer more extensive monitoring and networking. So, it could be unrelated to dengue, but it is still necessary to determine the kind of reaction. Just to be sure,” Duque expounded.

He assured parents, teachers, local officials and constituents that they had the full support from the DOH on the case investigation and assured them that the four vaccinated children who were reported with minor adverse reaction after the immunization had been closely monitored by health authorities.

He also informed that the chiefs of government and public hospitals had already been directed to assist the Dengvaxia-vaccinated children and assured parents here that they would be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth that would answer for the bill and that the “no-balance billing” policy should be enforced.

He also informed parents of the vaccinated children, who are not PhilHealth members, on the DOH medical assistance program for indigent patients and assured them that the government will shoulder the cost of the hospitalization.

According to Duque, the DOH medical assistance fund would also cover payment for Dengvaxia-vaccinated patients even in private hospitals.  

He also warned that local officials who are negligent in reporting cases of severe dengue shall be sanctioned.

During the open forum-cum-consultation, Duque also advised concerned parents of the immunized children to closely monitor and observe their dengue symptoms such as fever, headache, rashes, body pains and not to wait for critical cases on dehydration, dengue shock syndrome in case of bleeding, low blood pressure and circulation collapse, loss of appetite and immediately consult with the nearest health center or hospital.

“With Dengavaxia vaccination or not, the threat of dengue disease remains. And we will intensify our DOH drive for those who may show symptoms of dengue,” Duque underscored as he appealed to parents, guardians, teachers not to take signs for granted and report immediately any symptoms to the doctor, health services and medical workers.

For his part, DOH -CALABARZON Dr.  Regional Director Rio L. Magpantay advised parents whose children received Dengvaxia shots to approach the health offices and local health units.

Magpantay also said nurses and health management and monitoring officers had been dispatched to check on public schools to monitor the conditions and status of the school children covered in the school-based immunization program.

He told parents and teachers to submit the names of the vaccinated children to be verified in the master list so they could avail of the DOH assistance, including those who may have lost their vaccination cards for close-monitoring purposes and proper assistance.  (PNA)