Mayor Honey calls on parents to get children vaccinated vs pertussis
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan called on parents and guardians to bring their children to the city's health centers to get vaccinated against pertussis or commonly known as whooping cough.

Lacuna-Pangan encouraged them amid reports from the Department of Health (DOH) that over 800 cases of the disease have already been recorded from January 1 to March 31.
She said that vaccination can be availed free in the city's 44 health centers, which are under Manila Health Department (MHD) chief Dr. Arnold Pangan.
She added that it also protects children against various kinds of illnesses.
As a doctor herself, Lacuna stressed how important the pertussis vaccine is to decrease the number of cases and the mortality rate of the disease.
She also noted the importance of early detection of signs and symptoms and early treatment as well.
Meanwhile, for appointment vaccination, Pangan said that parents or guardians may visit the MHD online appointment system via https://www.manilahealthdepartment.com/online_app/index.php
The mayor added that the city is having its own investigation, contact tracing, prophylaxis, and immunization to address and provide solutions to the disease.
From January to March, the DOH has confirmed that pertussis cases in the country have reached 862, with 49 deaths.
It said that the data recorded is 30 times higher than in the same period in 2023, with 79 percent of children below five years old.
It added that the majority of the cases came from Region 4B, or Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan (MIMAROPA) with 187 cases.
It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 158 cases, Central Luzon with 132, Central Visayas with 121, and Western Visayas with 72 cases.
For all of the affected children, it said that 66 percent, or six out of 10, were either unvaccinated or had no vaccination history.
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/2/doh-reports-862-pertussis-cases-49-deaths-nationwide