SENATE Committee on Health and Demography chairman Christopher ‘Bong’ Go has appealed to parents, urging them to support and cooperate with the government’s vaccination program aimed at protecting their children from diseases.

This comes amid reports of increasing measles cases in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the identification of Pertussis outbreaks in the National Capital Region, including Taguig City and Quezon City, and other parts of the country like Iloilo City.

“Protecting our children’s health is a shared responsibility. Hinihikayat ko ang lahat ng mga magulang na suportahan ang mga inisyatibo sa pagbabakuna ng pamahalaan,” said Go.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagtiyak na nakakatanggap ang ating mga anak ng kanilang mga bakuna sa tamang oras, maaari nating silang ilayo sa mga malubhang sakit tulad ng tigdas at pertussis,” he added.

Republic Act No. 10152, known as the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011, mandates the provision of routine immunization services for infants and children up to five years of age, targeting diseases including pertussis and measles, among others.

Go also addressed concerns about vaccine hesitancy among parents, attributing it to misconceptions and fears of adverse effects.

“Let us trust our health experts and not allow fear to hinder our fight against these preventable diseases. Dapat nating gawing prayoridad ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga anak,” he asserted.

The Department of Health has launched a nonselective immunization drive in Mindanao in response to the measles outbreak in BARMM, aiming to vaccinate children in the affected areas without the need for vaccination history verification.

This measure seeks to expedite the immunization process and control the outbreak more efficiently.

The DOH has reported a resurgence of measles and pertussis cases nationwide, with over 2,600 measles cases and more than 453 cases of pertussis, including 35 deaths, in the first 10 weeks of the year.

Amid challenges, such as the delayed arrival of pertussis vaccines and the necessity of emergency purchases by local governments like Quezon City, the DOH raised alarms about the possible spread of pertussis infections to neighboring areas.

They called for increased vigilance and the prompt reporting of any cases that may indicate the presence of the disease.