Cebu health officials probe child's death after measles-rubella shot
A measles-rubella vaccination drive in Dumanjug, southern Cebu. (Facebook photo/Dumanjug MHO)
CEBU CITY – Health authorities are investigating the death of a child following a recent measles-rubella (MR) vaccination in Dumanjug, southern Cebu.
Dr. Sheila Faciol, chief of the Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO), said a team was immediately deployed to Dumanjug after the child’s death was reported.
“We received the report yesterday and right away today, our team is already in Dumanjug investigating the case,” Faciol said during the Hisgutan Ta! Media Forum on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Faciol said the investigation is expected to yield a report that will help health authorities assess the circumstances surrounding the death.
According to Faciol, the PHO team is gathering information from the Dumanjug Rural Health Unit and Barili District Hospital, where the child was brought.
The Dumanjug Municipal Health Office (MHO) said the child was vaccinated on Aug. 10 and died on Aug. 24, raising concerns about whether the vaccination may have been linked to the death.
The MHO notified the Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and coordinated with both the DOH and PHO for further assessment.
Authorities said the child’s medical records, health condition, and other pertinent circumstances will be examined.
The Dumanjug MHO also appealed to the public to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified claims while the investigation is ongoing.
The incident comes amid rising vaccine hesitancy.
Faciol noted Cebu’s vaccination coverage remains low at 19.7 percent.
“We will not back down. We continue to encourage our mothers to have their children vaccinated,” she said.