Save The Future: 2019 Philippine childhood immunization schedule released
The past few months have been a nightmare of a health
situation in the country. The measles outbreak in some regions of the country,
leaving more than 70 people dead (most are children), is partly blamed over an
outrage over dengvaxia that eroded public confidence in the government immunisation
programmes.
According to the Department of Health, less than 5,000
people across the country have contracted the highly contagious disease and
this is quite alarming. As health government officials contain this deadly
measles outbreak, they are urging the public to trust the governments
free basic immunisations.
The Philippine
Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the
Philippines (PIDSP) together with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination
(PFV) is united in their stand to regain public trust during the PIDSP’s 26th
annual convention held last February 21, 2019. It also coincides with the
launch of the “Save The Future” movement to restore the public’s confidence and
trust in vaccination, alongside the release of the national childhood
immunization schedule.
The 2019 Childhood
Immunization Schedule for the Philippines, which indicates the recommended vaccines
for children and adolescents, has been released with a recommended indication
for measles vaccine for infants as young as 6 months of age.
The annual schedule is developed by the Philippine Pediatric
Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP)
together with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV).
Similar to last year, the schedule contains 13 vaccinations
that Filipino children need from age 0 to 18 years. These include the
anti-tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and the Hepatitis B vaccine
(HBV) given to children right after birth. Both the HBV and BCG are included in
the National Immunization Program (NIP), which identifies vaccines that are
available for free at health centers.
The Childhood Immunization Schedule also covers
vaccines that can protect children from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B, polio, pneumococcal infections, rotavirus infections, influenza, measles, Japanese
encephalitis, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis
A, and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Given the measles outbreak nationwide, however, pediatricians
now recommend that the first measles vaccine be administered at six months old.
Measles vaccines are usually given to infants at nine months old, but they can
be given as early as six months of age in cases of outbreaks.
The PPS and PIDSP also reminded parents that vaccination is a
safe and scientifically proven way of fighting deadly and infectious diseases.
“Vaccinating our children is one of the most basic medical
interventions to ensure that our childrendevelop as healthy adults. Some fears
and myths persist that vaccines could harm infants, but decades of studies have
shown that vaccines prevent unnecessary child deaths instead of causing them,”
said PIDSP president Dr. Anna Lisa T.
Ong-Lim.
PPS President Dr. Salvacion
Gatchalian also emphasized the need for collaboration between parents and
doctors.
“While the Childhood Immunization
Schedule contains our ideal vaccination routine, we acknowledge that some patients
will require schedules that are different from our recommendations,” said Dr.
Gatchalian. “That is why it is important for parents to consult their
pediatricians so they can make the best possible decisions for the health and
well-being of their children.”
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