DOH monitors admitted Dengvaxia recipients
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - An official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday visited 13 children who received the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine and who are currently admitted at the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (JBLRMH) in this city.
DOH Assistant Secretary Ma. Francia Laxamana personally checked on the situation of the patients who were admitted after reportedly experiencing fever, dizziness and stomach aches which are the usual symptoms of dengue.
Out of the 13 children currently admitted in the hospital, four of them were allegedly experiencing symptoms of dengu e.
“I personally went here to check on the situation of the children who r ecei v ed the Dengvaxia vaccine and are now confined here due to mostly fever. The DOH wanted to know their current status and the results of the laboratory tests conducted on them,” she said.
Laxamana added that her visit is also aimed at monitoring the services offered by JBLRMH personnel, which is considered one of the biggest public hospitals in the region, to the Dengvaxia-recipient patients.
She reminded the hospital personnel that a priority express lane must be open to all patients experiencing symptoms of dengue, especially those who have the Dengue immunization identification car d s.
“The DOH is in constant communication with the public and private hospitals to give priority to Dengvaxia ID holders who are experiencing illnesses, especially symptoms of dengue,” she said.
As additional assistance, Laxamana distributed dengue kits consisting of treated mosquito nets, insect repellents, digital thermometers and multivitamins to the patients which is seen to help in preventing dengue, as well as in monitoring their health status.
“This is just a little help but will go a long way in preventing mosquito bites which causes the dengue disease. We also reiterate our constant advice to keep everyone’s surroundings clean to avoid becoming a breeding place of mosquitoes,” she said.