DOH issues Dengvaxia IDs

CI TY OF SAN FERNANDO - In line with the national government’s extensive monitoring activities of the national government, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday launched the Dengue Immunization identification cards to children who received the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The ID system was first introduced by DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III in Pampanga during the Provincial Dengue Summit attended by Governor Lilia Pineda, local health officials and barangay health workers at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.

It contains the identification of vaccinated school children including their name, grade level, gender and name and contact number of the holder’s parents, as well as the number of doses and the date they received each dose of Dengvaxia vaccine.

DOH Undersecretary Leonita Gorgolon said that the ID system was launched to aid in the tracking down of individuals who would be inflicted by severe dengue or other possible adverse effects after receiving the vaccine.

In case the beneficiaries will experience fever or other symptoms of dengue, the ID must be presented to health facilities to serve as a guide on the proper response that must be given to patients.

“May mga issue kasi na iyong mga mother ay nagpupunta sa ospital and claims na that their children ay vaccinated by Dengvaxia when they are not. So ang mga mabibigyan lang nitong ID ay iyong mga nasa masterlist lang namin na nakatanggap ng vaccine,” she explained.

The ID system will also help us identify who among those dengue-inflicted patients received the immunization and not kasi may mga nagkakasakit naman ng dengue na hindi nabigyan ng vaccine,” Gorgolon said.

An express lane on every hospital, both public and private, must also be created to give priority to ID holders for their immediate medical needs, Gorgolon added.

Gorgolon also advised journalists to look for the IDs when conducting interviews with supposed dengue patients who received the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“May mga instances kasi na may mga nagpapa-interview tapos kapag tinignan namin sa masterlist ay wala naman sila doon. Para sa validation, itong ID na ito ang magpapatunay na nainjectionan nga ng vaccine ang bata,” she said.

Gorgolon said that the IDs are now being distributed to Dengvaxia recipients in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and National Capital Regi o n .