DOH seeks parents’cooperation in community-based, routine vax

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon is soliciting the support of parents and care takers of children to have them immunized against vaccine-preventable d i seases.

This as the DOH launched its community-based immunization and catch-up vaccination for routine immunization as part of its commitment to protect every child from various diseases amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Aside from protecting our general population from Covid-19, we also have to protect our children from vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2018, we have seen a number of measles cases in our country and in 2019 polio outbreak was declared, wherein most affected population were children,” DOH OIC-Regional Director Corazon Flores said.

She added that with the absence of face-to-face classes, they will now be conducting the supposed school-based immunization through the community setting, as well as the catch-up vaccination for routine immunization until December 2021.

Under the community-based immunization, all Grade 1 or children aged 6-7 years old, and Grade 7 or 12-13 years old will be vaccinated against measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.

In addition, Grade 4 or children aged 9 to 14 years old from the provinces of Nueva Eci j a, Pampanga, and Zambales will also be gi ven human papillomavirus vacci n es.

Meanwhile, all children aged 23 months and below who missed their primary scheduled immunization shall be included in the catchup vaccination for routine immunization to protect them from diseases like from measles, mumps, polio, and Hepatitis B.

(PIA 3)