SENATOR Pia Cayetano reiterated her appeal to parents on having their children immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Vaccination saves lives. If you are a parent, and you have a choice to protect the life of your child, you will make that choice, right?” Cayetano said.

As the principal sponsor of the country’s basic law on routine vaccination, the ‘Mandator Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011,’ Cayetano shared that years ago, she lost a child who was born with multiple disabilities due to a congenital condition called trisomy 13.

She added no vaccines or medicines, and not even the best doctors could save her baby.

“My message is very simple. Mayroon po akong anak na namatay. Ang baby ko, mayroon siyang tinatawag na congenital disorder. Kahit anong galing ng doktor, kahit anong bakuna, kahit anong gamot, hindi kayang iligtas ang baby ko,” the senator shared.

“Pero itong mga sakit na measles, rubella, polio, there are vaccines that can save a child’s life,” she stressed.

“Kaya ginagamit kong example ang anak ko. Kahit anong gawin ko as a mother, hindi ko ma-save ang life niya kasi ang sakit niya, congenital. Pero yung mga sakit na nadadaan sa bakuna, may magagawa tayo,” she added.

The senator appealed to parents not to fall for baseless claims against vaccination which are circulating on social media.

“So please, huwag kayo makinig sa kung anu-anong pino-post sa Facebook, o sa Tiktok na hindi totoo laban sa pagpapabakuna. Nakakabuti po ang bakuna sa bata,” she concluded.