Las Piñas gov't orders door-to-door measles vaccination

MANILA, Philippines - Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel Aguilar has ordered city health officials and health workers to conduct a massive free door-to-door measles vaccination.

Aguilar said the measure aims to ensure that babies, young children and even pregnant women and adults are spared from the dreaded virus and death due to complications.

Aguilar also urged parents to have their children vaccinated at the nearest health center in their area.

“Kailangang maagap, mabilis at malawakan ang pagbabakuna kontra tigdas upang maiwasan ang paglaganap nito na maaring ikamatay ng pasyente," Aguilar said.

The entire city health team was mobilized on Thursday to administer vaccine shots in populated barangays such as Talon 2, Talon 5 and Pamplona Uno.

The door-to-door vaccination campaign was prompted by the Department of Health's declaration of a measles outbreak in several districts in nine Metro Manila cities, which includes the three mentioned barangays in Las Piñas, where a high number of cases have been reported.

Las Piñas City health officials, meanwhile, called the attention of residents, particularly parents, on the symptoms of measles that include fever that could reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, cough, redness of eyes, runny nose, accompanied by muscle pain.

Other measles symptoms include red rashes that may appear behind the ears and spread all over the patient’s body after two days. Residents are urged to immediately seek medical attention.

Aguilar has assured residents with city-issued free hospitalization card (Green Card) of full coverage in case of hospitalization at any of the accredited hospitals such as Las Piñas Doctors’ Hospital, San Juan de Dios Hospital and the Philippine General Hospital.