DOH- XI to pursue youth and children immunization on August 2015

DAVAO CITY, Jan 30 (PIA) Health authorities in Davao Region announced the holding of immunization activities for adolescents in August 2015 to ensure the protection of teeners from polio, measles, flu and Hepatitis-B.

Dr. Racquel Montejo, cluster head of the Family Health cluster of the Department of Health 11 said two vaccination activities will be conducted in August 2015 for all public national high schools for Grade VII students who will receive Measles, Rubella, and Tetanus vaccines.


She said that in Davao Oriental all Grade IV students will receive HPV vaccines that will protect especially female students against cervical cancer.

Montejo explained that at present, bringing down these diseases up to minimum level remains a work in progress, prompting the DOH to push its vaccination program. She said that when a measles strikes on the youth, consequently, the children are also affected.

“It brings the necessity to include the youth sector in the measles immunization,” Montejo said.

She said that as far as polio is concerned, not all children receive polio vaccine even if it is given orally.

Montejo said the government through the DOH remains advocating the anti-polio vaccination despite the World Health Organization affirmation that the Philippines is polio-free since 2000, because its
neighboring Asian countries remain to have polio cases.

“The Philippines remains at risk in the importation of polio due to the movement of people,” she said.
Montejo said only the small pox is totally eradicated through vaccination worldwide.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)