The Department of Health said it has no plan yet to expand its dengue immunization program.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said while its dengue vaccine program for Grade 4 students is about to conclude in July, the department cannot give yet a go signal for next batch of recipients.
“There is no plan yet,” Ubial said. “There is also no allocated budget for continuing the program.”
The Health chief has to wait for the recommendation of the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee, which is composed of doctors monitoring the immunization program.
Beneficiaries of the program were the poorest of the poor Grade 4 public school students in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
Based on DoH records, there is a high incidence of dengue in the said areas.
“Let’s wait for the result of the adverse events, the result of the implementation because these will also affect the beliefs and perspective of the parents,” Ubial said.
Dengue, a disease common in tropical and sub-tropical countries, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. It is fatal and commonly affects children.
The vaccines were administered in three separate doses and six months apart.