Cebu’s dewormed kids dropped

Dengvaxia scare remains to have an adverse effect to many of the local programs of the Department of Health (DOH), particularly the deworming program here in Cebu province.

DOH-7 has reported on Wednesday that the number of dewormed children this year reduced by more than 50 percent as compared to last year.

Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato, Integrated Helminth Control Program coordinator of DOH-7, said the decreasing trend here followed after the controversial revelation of the harmful effects of Dengvaxia - the only available dengue vaccine rolled out in the Philippines.

He said Cebu even has the highest prevalence of children inflicted with worm infection, however, after two rounds of mass deworming this year, the province had the lowest turnout of dewormed individuals.

Buscato could only provide an estimated percentage as to the drop of number of dewormed children.

No exact figure was available yet on Wednesday.

He said the declining situation was already observed last January and February during the first round of the deworming program and it decreased even more during the second round last June by more than 50 percent.

Cebu province shared the lowest number of dewormed children, said Buscato.

He explained that this was expected because dengue immunization was only extended in the province, next to the other highly-endemic areas in Luzon.

The Dengvaxia shots were initially introduced in the three highly endemic regions – Central Luzon, Calabarzon and National Capital Region.

Cebu province was the fourth pilot area where the dengue vaccination program was expanded after dengue cases, majority in Cebu, increased significantly in 2016.

Dengvaxia is the world’s first dengue vaccine rolled out in the country that later on went controversial.

In 2017, its own developer revealed that the vaccine poses risks to people without a history of dengue and so DOH suspended the dengue immunization.

More than 160,000 children received the first shot of the dengue vaccines here in Cebu.

After the issue erupted, Buscato said parents are apparently scared to avail of the programs and services already.

Earlier reports showed that measles infection also increased in the region because adults fear for their children to receive the immunization for this particular disease.

Buscato said the deworming program was instituted decades ago and is already proven to be safe and effective. Besides, he said children are not injected but rather they take medication.

He said this program is given for free to children between one and 18 years old either in schools or at the health centers.

He warned parents and guardians that if a child misses the deworming services, he or she might suffer stunted growth, poor performance in school, and weak immune system, among others.

Miasco/GAN