Grade 4 pupils in Bulacan receive free vaccine against Dengue
CITY OF MALOLOS – Grade 4 pupils, ages nine and up and are enrolled for the year 2015-2016 receive the first ever vaccine against dengue called Dengvaxia, a product of Sanofi Pasteur, for free in 540 public schools in Bulacan.
Out of 61,361 target pupils, 14,819 were already given vaccines and will receive another shot after six months to ensure their protection against the deadly disease.
With the cooperation and support of the Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) and the Department of Education (DepEd), the program was launched wherein the pilot vaccination immediately followed last March 29, 2016 in the elementary schools in Pulilan town.
Myrna Labrador, Project Evaluation III of PPHO, said that a grade 4 pupil, with parent’s consent and has passed the medical screening is allowed to receive Dengvaxia vaccine in three doses with six months intervals.
Aside from Pulilan Elementary Schools, free dengue vaccination was also conducted on April 8 to 11 in the public schools of San Rafael, San Miguel South and North, San Ildefonso North, Plaridel, Paombong, Norzagaray, Hagonoy East and West, Bulakan and Angat.
Meanwhile, elementary schools in Pandi, Balagtas, Baliwag North and South, Bocaue, Bustos, Calumpit, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Obando, San Ildefonso South and Santa Maria are next in schedule.
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado reminds the public that even though there is now a way to treat dengue, Bulakenyos must still keep the environment clean to be free from any diseases.
“Itong bakuna laban sa dengue ay isang napakagandang balita ngunit kailangan pa rin nating maglinis ng kapaligiran nang sa gayon, wala tayong sakit na kailangang lunasan dahil walang magkakalat ng dengue kung walang maruming kapaligiran kaya tuluy-tuloy lang tayo sa pag-iingat,” Alvarado said.
Based on the report from the PPHO, a total of 9,380 cases of dengue were reported with 22 deaths in 2015 while 672 cases occurred from January to March 2016.
Dengue fever is a dangerous disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes called aedes aegypti. Symptoms include severe joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, exhaustion, and rash.
Next schedule of vaccination will be on May, June, October, November, December 2016 and April, May and June for 2017.