MANILA -- The dengue task force of the Department of Health’s (DOH) office in Mimaropa plans to visit each of the 76 people in the region who had received the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.
"Dahil importante na nakikita nila na concerned tayo; second, marami silang hindi alam na kailangan ipabatid natin sa kanila ng personal at di pwedeng basta announcement or bigyan mo lang ng letter. Kailangan puntahan para makita mo rin lagay ng bata (First, because it is important to show them that we are concerned; second, we need to relay pertinent information to them in person. It is not enough to relay these information through an announcement or a letter. We also need to see how the children are),” Regional Director of DOH-4B (Mimaropa), Dr. Eduardo Janairo, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“Kasi kahit sipon, lagnat, or sakit ng ulo, at kahit konting sintomas, kailangang malaman nila na dapat ay dalhin na kaagad sa facilities para sila ay matingnan (Even if it’s only colds, fever, headache, or the slightest of symptoms, the vaccine recipients should immediately be brought to a health facility for check up),” Janairo added.
He explained that in the “one-on-one visitation”, health workers will explain the disease to the family of the Dengvaxia recipient, along with the need to seek medical attention when certain symptoms start to show.
Janairo said the health workers would also teach the families how to use the dengue kits in monitoring the Dengvaxia recipients at home and in guarding against dengue.
"Ang Mimaropa ay di nakasama sa Dengvaxia vaccination, pero mino-monitor namin kasi alam namin na merong nagbigay ng (vaccine) in private (clinics) at dun sa nakatira sa tatlo o apat na regions na nabigyan kung saan marami ang sa amin ay nakatira (Mimaropa was not included in the Dengvaxia vaccination but we are monitoring those who received the vaccine from private clinics and those who are residents of Mimaropa but got the vaccine in other regions)," he pointed out.
He assured that medical assistance is ready for vaccine recipients, noting that hospitalization costs should not deter them as PhilHealth would shoulder expenses for the dengue treatment, while the DOH Medical Assistance Program would also provide aid.
As for those who live far from health facilities, Janairo suggested that they seek the help of the social welfare department’s Assistance to Individuals Under Crisis Situations in finding transportation to bring patients to the nearest hospital.
He said patients’ families could also alert the task force, which could send DOH-Mimaropa ambulances to transport patients to the hospital. (PNA)
