Free dengue vaccines available in 4 Metro Manila cities

MANILA, Philippines -  Children aged nine to 14 can avail themselves of free dengue vaccines in health centers in four cities in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday.

Rhodora Cruz, DOH National Dengue Control and Prevention program manager, said the government initiated a community-based dengue vaccination campaign in Caloocan, Manila, Makati and Quezon City.

Cruz said the four cities recorded the highest number of dengue cases.

Data from the DOH showed that a total of 43,770 dengue cases were recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to July 1 this year.

The number went down by 36.8 percent compared to the 69,297 dengue cases recorded during the same period in 2016.

The DOH said all regions in the country posted a decline in dengue cases except in the National Capital Region.

Cruz said the DOH recorded 5,567 dengue cases in Metro Manila compared to 4,457 cases last year.

The DOH will require the consent of the parents of children who will avail themselves of dengue vaccines.

The government has also launched a school-based dengue vaccination program in Cebu, Central Luzon and Calabarzon region.