Health officials probe child’s death in Dumanjug

CEBU, Philippines — Health officials are now investigating the death of a seven-month-old child in Dumanjug, Cebu, following claims raised by the family on its link to the child’s measles-rubella (MR) vaccination.

In a statement released by the Dumanjug Municipal Health Office (MHO), it stated: “No conclusion has been made on whether the vaccination had any relation to the child's death.”

The Department of Health – Central Visayas (DOH-7), for its part, also said a formal Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) investigation is underway to establish the facts and determine whether there is a causal relationship between the vaccination and the child’s death.

In a public post by Luzel Zozobrado, believed to be the mother, she said her child received the MR vaccine on Aug. 10 and died on Aug. 24.

Mother’s claims

In a series of Facebook posts, Zozobrado expressed grief over her daughter’s death and questioned whether the administration of several vaccines and vitamin A during the same visit could have contributed to the child’s condition.

She said the child was vaccinated on Aug. 10 and remained active afterward.

In her Aug. 26 post, she said the child began vomiting heavily on the afternoon of Aug. 23 and developed a rapidly rising fever early the following day, reaching a reported temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Zozobrado said the family first sought medical attention at the Dumanjug Rural Health Unit but was unable to have the child attended to because of the reported patient volume and cut-off.

The family then rushed the child to Barili District Hospital, where the child was already in critical condition.

According to the medical certificate posted by the child’s mother on Facebook, the child’s immediate cause of death was acute respiratory failure, with septic shock listed as the antecedent cause and status epilepticus as the underlying cause.

Health officials probe

The MHO, for its part, said it immediately reported the incident to the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) after receiving information about the case. It is also coordinating with the DOH and the Cebu Provincial Health Office for the review and investigation.

DOH-7 said the investigation will consider the child’s medical history, health condition, and other relevant information before any conclusion is made.

The Dumanjug MHO also urged the public to avoid making conclusions or spreading unverified information while the investigation is ongoing.

It assured the public that the case is being taken seriously and that it will fully cooperate with the DOH, Provincial Health Office, and other concerned agencies.

The MHO extended its condolences to the child’s family and appealed to the public to respect the family’s privacy and grief.

Parents with questions or concerns about vaccination were encouraged to consult the MHO, barangay health centers, or their healthcare providers for accurate and reliable information.

In a separate statement yesterday, DOH-7 for Health Development acknowledged the anxiety hounding the case and assured that the child’s safety remains its top priority.

“We want to assure the public that a rigorous, transparent medical investigation is actively underway. While it is entirely natural to feel hesitant during moments of uncertainty, we must rely on medical science to keep our children and community safe,” the statement reads.

“Currently, there is no medical evidence linking the case to the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine,” it added.

The health agency further assures that MR vaccines have been “protecting” Filipino children and that trust in its medical facts merits continuity as it has wiped out deadly outbreaks for generations. They further said that the real “danger” lies in the diseases.

“The threat of Measles and Rubella is severe, causing permanent blindness, brain swelling, and death. The risk of these complications is devastatingly higher than the risk of a vaccine reaction,” the statement further reads, noting that immunization remains the strongest shield.

DOH-7 said it will release the verified official report once the investigation is completed.

The DOH has conducted the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), which started on August 10 and targets children aged six months to 59 months old across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue.

DOH-7 earlier set a target of at least 95 percent vaccination coverage to help prevent outbreaks of measles and rubella.

The department has said measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly among young children.

The DOH-7 and the Cebu provincial government continue to urge parents and guardians to bring eligible children to vaccination sites and to seek information directly from health authorities amid the continued spread of conflicting claims about vaccination on social media.

Officials Appeal: ‘Get your kids vaxxed’

On the final day of the campaign, Consolacion Vice Mayor and medical doctor Joannes Alegado urged parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated against measles and rubella as the DOH’s Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) enters its final day on Aug. 28.

Alegado made the appeal as the national government continues its immunization campaign targeting children aged six months to 59 months.

He explained that the MR-SIA is a supplemental vaccination program designed to strengthen children’s immunity even if they have already received routine measles vaccinations.

According to Alegado in his video message posted on his Facebook page, a single measles vaccination provides about 93 percent protection, while supplemental immunization can increase protection to around 97 percent.

He also appealed to parents not to be swayed by misinformation and false claims about vaccination, stressing that the MR-SIA is voluntary and free of charge through the DOH. – IHM (CEBU NEWS)