TARLAC CITY – The Department of Health through the City Health Office, headed by Dr. Ma. Carmela Go and Expanded Program on Immunization Coordinator Christine Enriquez, administered the second dose of anti-dengue vaccine to 116 fifth graders who received their first dose last year. The vaccine comprises of three doses in six-monthly intervals.
Rural Health Unit I Physician, Dr. Shierly Serrano, supervised the immunization held on November 8, 2016. The school advisers handling the fifth graders from the Tarlac West Central Elementary School assisted during the said activity.
A total of 236 students will be immunized here under the Anti-Dengue Vaccination Program of DOH. Regions III, IVA and the National Capital Region are the only areas that are presently benefitting from the said program due to their increased number of dengue cases.
The Philippines is the first country to implement dengue vaccination through school-based immunization approach. According to DOH, the program aims to vaccinate about 1 million pupils aged 9 to 11 years old enrolled in public schools in the said regions.
City Mayor Cristy Angeles ensures concerted efforts with the national government agencies for the success of such programs.
The vector control and management being done by the Environmental Health and Safety Unit of the CHO along with immunization will greatly reduce dengue cases here. The city mayor gives emphasis to cleanliness which is still the most fundamental solution against mosquito-borne diseases like dengue./Tarlac CIO