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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Liver cancer outbreak in 25 years?: Garin floats bleak consequence of poor vaccine coverage

Liver cancer outbreak in 25 years?: Garin floats bleak consequence of poor vaccine coverage

Published Apr 2, 2024 05:29 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin warns of a possible hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer outbreak in 25 years' time, if low vaccination rates continue to persist.

IMG-c79c7461826f0f42fbae0f5cf87f4f54-V.jpgIloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

If low vaccination rates continue to persist, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin says a hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer outbreak could happen in the Philippines in 25 years’ time.

Garin, a physician by profession, said the recent upsurge in vaccine hesitancy among parents resulted in children being prone to several illnesses.

“Unfortunately, nagkaroon tayo ng (we had a) vaccine scare, specifically noon (then). I believe the Department of Health (DOH) has to address the elephant in the room. Kasi lahat ito, kung matitingnan niyo nagkaroon tayo ng polio outbreak, nagkaroon ng measles outbreak, ngayon pertussis outbreak,” the lawmaker said in a press briefing on Monday, April 1.

(Because if you look at it, we had a polio outbreak, there was a measles outbreak, now a pertussis outbreak.)

Garin blamed the misinformation against the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine for this vaccine hesitancy. She claimed that this happened during the Duterte administration.

Vaccination coverage against several illnesses and ailments reportedly declined during that time. This, she said, may trigger a worst-case scenario involving Hepatitis B.

“Ngayon kasama doon sa bumagsak ay ang vaccination ng Hepatitis B, kasi kasama iyan duon sa mga bakuna na ibinibigay ng gobyerno,” Garin said.

(Now, among those that have declined is the vaccination of Hepatitis B, because that is included in the vaccines being provided by the government.)

“Ano ang consequence nito? Doon sa mga batang hindi nabakunahan at nahawa ng Hepatitis B kasi marami naman ang may Hepa ngayon, 25 years, when they reach, let’s see pagdating ng 2042 to 2045 ay posibleng magkaroon ng maraming liver cancer…dahil sa mga unvaccinated children,” she stressed.

(What is the consequence of this? Regarding the children who were not vaccinated and then get infected with Hepatitis B, because many have Hepa now, 25 years, when they reach, let's see when it comes to 2042 to 2045 it is possible many will have liver cancer...because of the unvaccinated children.)

Garin, a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary, is now calling for catch-up vaccinations and early diagnosis to prevent further medical concerns in the future.

Related Tags

Janette Garin hepatitis Liver Cancer vaccine hesitancy
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