MANILA -- Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday they target to vaccinate all Kinder to Grade 6 students against measles before classes end on April 5.
In a television interview, Duque said measles cases may go up during summer so the DOH will be conducting a school-based immunization campaign to provide learners protection against the disease during their vacation.
"Kami po ay umaapila sa mga nanay, mga tagapag-alaga ng mga bata mula Kindergarten hanggang Grade 6 na pabukanahan ang kanilang mga anak. Ito po ay libre at subok na nang matagal na panahon (We appeal to mothers and caregivers of children from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to have them vaccinated. This is for free and this has already been tested)," he said.
Duque added that there would be a selective method of immunization, where children who have received two doses of measles vaccines would no longer be covered.
According to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, 18,553 measles cases with 286 deaths had been reported through the routine surveillance system from January 1 to March 7. About 60 percent of the total cases were not vaccinated.
The DOH 4-A (Calabarzon) recorded the highest number of cases at 4,087 with 80 deaths.
A total of 2,178,531 out of the total target of 3,783,985 children aged six months to 59 months have been vaccinated against measles as of March 11. (PNA)
