Parents also cite other reasons for refusal to have their children vaccinated, health secretary says
(Eagle News) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said the Dengvaxia scare has had an effect on the implementation of government vaccination programs in some areas.
Duque said there were, however, other reasons put forward by parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated in a government program.
He said some, for instance, cite religious reasons.
Others, he said, did not allow their children to be vaccinated because they were sick, while others were not vaccinated by virtue of circumstance.
“Ang ibang grupo ay di naman permanente sa isang lugar. Di sila umaabot sa takdang oras ng pagbakuna,” Duque explained before the joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon and health committees on the Dengvaxia mess.
According to Duque, the Department of Health was doing all that it could to bring back those who no longer wanted to have their children immunized under government programs, as he emphasized the immunization rates in some areas.
In Region 9, he said immunization rate for mumps and measles, among others, was at 63 percent, lower than the 73 percent registered in the last quarter.
During the measles outbreak in Region 11, he said the immunization rate was at 65 percent.
He said he has issued the directive for health workers to make house-to-house visitations and explain the benefits of such vaccines.
“Binigyan natin sila ng kautusan na wag sila susuko at talagang balik balikan (ang mga bahay),” Duque said. Meanne Corvera
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