DOH begins massive vaccination against measles

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Department of Health (DOH) started today a massive vaccination campaign to protect children, especially in Metro Manila, against measles.

The DOH has implemented vaccination after Metro Manila Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit reported a total of 233 confirmed measles cases, including three deaths, from January 1 to December 14.

"We will not wait for an epidemic of measles to spread and affect a large number of our children. It must be stopped aggressively so that we can prevent large-scale outbreaks that can lead to serious illness and even death," Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said.

He said that measles vaccination teams have been deployed in 17 local government units in Metro Manila regardless of the number of measles cases.

"This is to ensure that virus transmission will be averted. We have an adequate amount of vaccines to provide everyone who needs to be immunized," Janairo added.

The recent high number of measles cases has prompted health officials in the region to declare measles as a top priority health concern during the last quarter of this year.

Local health officials have already started to seek vulnerable children aged 0-59 months old in their areas to be vaccinated, Janairo said.

The immediate immunization initiative also aims to reduce the number of children from developing the disease and dying from measles, he added.

Measles is caused by a virus that easily spreads through coughing and sneezing and even through breathing especially in enclosed areas where there are affected patients.