A House leader on Saturday urged Filipino families to remain vigilant about the spread of measles in their communities, even after measles cases have started to drop in the past weeks.
Deputy Speaker and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano made the call as the Department of Health (DOH) recently reported a downward trend in the number of new measles cases in the country, owing to the agency’s intensified immunization campaign.
The principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 10152 or the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act, Cayetano commended the efforts of the DOH, local officials, and barangay health workers on the ground in convincing Filipino parents to have their children vaccinated.
On the other hand, she stressed that there is still no room for complacency when it comes to protecting children from diseases.
“We are very delighted by DOH’s report that measles cases in the country are already decreasing. But everyone should continue to be vigilant, ready, and non-complacent,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said she has long been fighting for the promotion of preventive healthcare measures for Filipino families as a way to save them from premature deaths and unnecessary illnesses.
“During my first term in the Senate, I decided to fight for laws that sought to protect children from various diseases, because I do not want to see any child dying despite the presence of preventive measures and solutions like vaccines,” she said.
Cayetano added that she said she had been going around the country convincing Filipino families to restore their trust in vaccines, even before news broke out regarding the outbreak of measles in several provinces.
In February, Cayetano led an immunization drive for young children at the Rural Health Unit 3 of Barangay Mabiga in Mabalacat, Pampanga.