Vaccinate children vs. measles, polio, Duterte urges parents

November 10 ------ President Rodrigo Duterte has urged parents to help protect their children from life-threatening diseases through immunization. In a video message, Duterte threw his support behind the measles and polio supplemental immunization project of the Department of Health, which started on October 26 and will run until November 25. “The most important lesson that we are learning from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is that the health risks posed by the spread of communicable diseases must be seriously addressed,” he said.

“I, therefore, call on parents of children under 5 years old as well as the local government leaders and other community stakeholders to support the immunization activity.” Duterte also urged everyone to “safeguard the well-being of our children and ensure a healthier future for our nation.” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the child’s first five years were “very formative to his or her health.” “The illnesses we are vaccinating them against can be very damaging and will have repercussions on their growth and maturity. That is why we are urging parents not to take these conditions lightly, but must vaccinate their children as soon as possible,” he said.

The DOH said “safe” and “high quality” measles-rubella vaccine (MR) and bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) will be distributed for free. Children from 9–59 months old will be given the MR vaccine while those who are 0–59 months old will receive the bOPV, the department said.

Source: gmanetwork.com