MANILA – An official of the Department of Health (DOH) said there had been an improvement over the vaccine hesitancy problem among parents.
DOH-National Capital Region Center for Health Development director Corazon Flores said on Saturday that more mothers are lining up in health centers in the past days to have their children vaccinated.
The DOH has intensified its immunization campaign following a measles outbreak this month.
“Nakakalungkot talaga na nagkaroon ng ganitong outbreak dahil maraming nagkakasakit at namamatay pero at least naging aware talaga ang mga nanay na dalhin ang kanilang mga anak sa mga health centers para pabakunahan,” said Flores.
She added: “Marami nang napabakunahan ngayong linggong ito as of yesterday, nakakaabot na po kami ng almost 100,000 na nababakunahan.”
But there are still a few mothers who refuse to vaccinate their children, Flores noted.
“Doon sa 100,000 less than a hundred lang ang umayaw sa bakuna pero talagang nag-improve na ang sitwasyon at maraming pumipila sa health centers natin. Ine-encourage parin namin ang mga magulang na tumatanggi, sinasabi namin na nagbibigay ang ng proteksyon, iyan ay proven and tested nang mahabang panahon,” the DOH official said.
During a press briefing at the Payatas B Health Center in Quezon City last Tuesday, Health secretary Francisco Duque III said he is happy to see parents “having a change of view on the DOH’s immunization program.”
He added that health centers were hardly visited by parents earlier. (With PNA/PN)
