AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

There's an urgent need for the national government to review its vaccination program, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes said. 

"It is unacceptable that news of measles and pertussis outbreaks come amid our celebration of World Immunization Week. We call on the Department of Health (DOH) to urgently review our vaccination program," Reyes said in a recent statement.  

"We need to make sure that our kababayans (countrymen) remain protected especially against preventable diseases," underscored the vice chairman of the House Committee on Health. 

According to the DOH, pertussis cases are still rising and that as of April 13, there have been 1,566 pertussis cases recorded nationwide. 

Meanwhile, 1,817 cases of measles were recorded from Jan. 1 to April 13, which is five times higher compared to those reported in the same period last year. 

What's frustrating for Reyes is that both diseases are easily preventable through vaccination. As such, he urged parents to make sure that their children have a complete dose of vaccines needed according to their age. 

"Libre po ang bakuna sa ating mga centers. Pertussis and measles are preventable diseases at napakahalaga na mabakunahan ang mga bata laban dito. Kaya hinihimok po natin ang ating mga kababayan na huwag mag-atubiling pabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak," he said. 

(Vaccines are free at our centers. Pertussis and measles are preventable diseases, that's why it's important to have our children inoculated from these. We urge our countrymen, don't hesitate to have your children vaccinated.) 

Reyes also called on the DOH to continue to fight disinformation campaigns against vaccination.