Hospital personnel attend to a patient who is a beneficiary of PhilHealth program sponsored by Capitol. (CONTRIBUTED)
THE Department of Health urged parents to bring their children to health centers near their residence for immunization.
“Nanawag mi sa mga parents, caretakers nga wala gyud silay laing buhaton kung dili dalhon ang ilang mga anak sa atong mga health centers. Millions and millions gyud ang gigasto sa ato’ng government ani (We are calling on all parents, caretakers that all they have to do is bring their children to the health centers. The government spends millions for this),” said Dr. Emmelie Silao, medical officer of DOH-7, during the Kapihan sa PIA forum held last Thursday as part of the celebration of National Immunization Month.
During the forum, he doctors said the major obstacle in the immunization process is to complete all the needed immunizations of the children.
“As long as we have enough supply from the central office, then wala mi problema sa vaccine (then vaccine is not a problem). Ang amo lang gyud pirmi nga maproblema kay kanang mga gitawag nato nga mga revolters. Muadto sa health center kausa unya pagkahuman dili na mobalik (Our only problem are those whom we call revolters. They go to the health center only once and would not come back,” said Dr. Shalinie Claour, program coordinator of Cebu City Health’s Expanded Program on Immunization.
Claour is urging parents to come to city hall and submit their children for immunizations.
The DOH-7 is targeting to achieve a 95-percent and above record for children with complete immunization from birth to up to one year old.
According to Claour, the 95 percent completion rate is a worldwide standard that ensures the prevention of any possible disease outbreak.
Last year, they only reached 80 percent because of the lack of pentavalent vaccines. This year, the doctors are confident of reaching their target as they now have a complete stock of all the vaccines. As of the first quarter of 2016, DOH-7’s record of children with complete immunization reached 20-25 percent.
Dr. Shelbay Blanco, a medical officer of DOH-7, also shared that parents should change their mind-set on vaccination. He said vaccines are vital for the health of a child and should not be seen as a threat.
“Ang vaccine mohatag og protection sa atong katawhan. Sa mga nagduha-duha pa, ang vaccine dili makadaot (Vaccine protects the people against sickness. For those who have second thoughts, vaccines are not harmful),” said Blanco. /USJ-R Intern Michaela Jaycel L. Dolores