Cebu is preparing its healthcare system for a possible measles outbreak as Gov. Pamela Baricuatro urged parents to get their children vaccinated against the highly preventable disease.
Baricuatro said Monday, Sept. 14, that the possibility of an outbreak remains a concern because measles can cause serious complications.
“Of course, it’s a cause of concern. We don’t want that to happen here,” Baricuatro said in an interview.
She urged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles and rubella, saying immunization remains the best protection against an outbreak.
“Magpabakuna jud, di ba? Para walay outbreak nga mahitabo diri sa atoa,” she said.
Baricuatro also assured the public that Cebu’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond if measles cases increase.
“Ready ang atong mga tambalanan,” she said.
The governor’s call comes as the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) continues its Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), which aims to protect children and reduce transmission of measles and rubella.
The campaign targets at least 95% coverage, but only 21.7% of target children in Central Visayas had been reached as of Aug. 29, according to DOH 7 data.
The figure left 493,172 children unreached by the supplemental campaign.
Health officials have cited vaccine misinformation on social media, resistance from some residents and other field challenges as obstacles to the vaccination drive.
Baricuatro has repeatedly urged parents to have their children vaccinated and to consult doctors, nurses, midwives and other health workers when they have concerns about vaccines instead of relying on unverified information online.
In an Aug. 15 statement, she warned that misinformation and vaccine hesitancy could leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
“Over the years, misinformation about vaccines has increased, and so has vaccine hesitancy,” Baricuatro said.
The governor had earlier raised concerns about the measles outbreak in Bangladesh, where 999 suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths had been recorded since March.
Reuters reported on Sept. 9 that Bangladesh was facing its worst measles outbreak on record, with hospitals dealing with overcrowding, supply shortages and an influx of sick children.
In a Sept. 10 Facebook post, Baricuatro asked opponents of measles vaccination what they would do if Cebu faced a similar crisis.
“God forbid this happens here, will those of you who oppose measles vaccination protect the public? What do you plan to do?” she said.
Baricuatro said Cebu should prevent a similar situation by increasing vaccination coverage and ensuring that children are protected before an outbreak occurs.
Comments