By Analou De Vera
Pediatricians urged their fellow healthcare providers to educate every patient on the importance of immunization, amid measles outbreaks in certain regions in the country.
Philippine Pedriatric Society (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
"We should take every opportunity to convince and reinforce the message that the vaccines available to prevent diseases are safe and highly effective," said the Philippine Pediatric Society and Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines in a joint statement.
"Vaccination remains the main intervention in reducing morbidity and mortality against infectious diseases," they furthered.
The two groups said that the increasing measles cases in the country are alarming.
"Measles is a highly communicable disease, having an attack rate of 90 percent among susceptible exposed individuals," they said.
They encourage members of local medical societies to collaborate with the city, municipal or provincial health office, in organizing community based regular vaccine mission activities; and spread awareness in the community about measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) declared measles outbreak in four regions in the country due to the increasing number of cases.
The DOH first declared an outbreak in Metro Manila followed by the regions of Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
The San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila has already recorded 60 deaths due to measles.
"The DOH is advising mothers, the public to bring their children at the first sign of fever to the nearest health facility for prompt treatment and proper case management," said recently by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.