The Department of Health (DOH) is urging children and teenagers to get vaccinated against diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.
The DOH wants kids between the ages of 10 and 19 to take advantage of the government’s vaccination program.
According to Dr. Janis Asuncion Macazo from the DOH’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, adolescents and teenagers need booster shots for diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.
This is because the protection provided by some vaccines decreases over time.
To protect girls aged 10 to 19 from cervical cancer, the DOH also offers free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
Based on the DOH’s data from 2022, out of every 100 teenagers, 13 contracted measles, 40 suffered from diphtheria, and 11 were infected with pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
To make it convenient for teenagers, the DOH provides free vaccines through school-based immunization programs.
Additionally, teenagers can visit the nearest health center to receive free vaccinations.
The DOH designates August as National Immunization Month, highlighting the importance of getting vaccinated.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 24, 2023
