Dengue Vaccination of Grade Six Pupils s.y. 2017-18
- A dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. The Department of Health (DOH) launched its school-based dengue immunization program to reduce the dengue problem arises nowadays through dengue vaccine. This vaccine is called Dengvaxia, the world’s first anti-dengue vaccine. The DOH vaccinated all Grade 4 pupils enrolled in the public schools from regions with the highest number of dengue cases, namely the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon. Pupils will be given three doses of the vaccine.
- Last Wednesday (July 12, 2017), the third dose was given to those recipient pupils who are now enrolled in Grade 6. It was conducted by the following:
- Nurse:
- Michelle Remulla, May Martinez and Eva Camerino
- Nutritionist:
- Andrelita Santiago
- Midwife:
- Emelita Lara
- Eden Escoro
- Last April 4, 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) together with the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) launched the much-awaited administration of dengue vaccines in Marikina City. It was continued in Iba, Zambales where His Excellency, President Benigno Aquino III, together with Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin led the immunization to selected 9 years old students.
- The Philippines is the first country to implement dengue vaccination through school-based immunization approach and aims to vaccinate about 1 million Grade 4 pupils aged 9 years old and above enrolled in public schools in Regions III, IV-A, and NCR.
- As of April 11, 2016 a total of 81,665 pupils have been immunized with dengue vaccines nationwide. The vaccine will comprise of three doses in six-monthly intervals. The next two doses will be given to the same students who received the first dose. The first dose of the vaccine will b¬e given from April to June 2016 followed by the second dose on October – December 2016 and the last dose on April-June 2017. 107 cases of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) were reported. This is less than one percent of the total immunized children. The top four common reactions were fever, dizziness, vomiting, and rash.
- Philippines had the highest incidence in the Western Pacific Region from 2013 to 2015. As of March 26, 2016, a total of 31, 809 suspect dengue cases were reported nationwide. This is 32.8% higher compared to the same time period last year which had a total of 23,951 cases. Most of the cases were from Region IV-A with 5,130 cases out of 31, 809 (16.1%); Region III with 4, 203 cases (13.2%) and Region VII with 3, 479 cases (10.9%).
- “A concerted effort is what will get us through the growing dengue crisis. In January 2016, during the inaugural Asia Dengue Summit, a Call to Action was made by the four co-convening host, Asian Dengue Vaccination Advocacy (ADVA), Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization for Tropical Medicine (SEAMEO), and Foundation Merieux. The call was to urge governments to take decisive actions, for political commitment, and to avoid undue delays to use licensed and approved new interventions against dengue, such as vaccination.” Professor Usa Thisyakorn added.
- -Republic of the Philippines, Department of Health