Dengue Vaccination in PH supported by the WHO.
The World Health Organization recently supported the actions of the Department of Health in the Philippines of doing dengue vaccination in schools both public and private.
The DOH is using a vaccine called the Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) which is recommended by the organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE).
“Based on this analysis of the situation, the expert group has developed a set of recommendations. I would like to highlight three recommendations. First the WHO expert group said the introduction of dengue vaccine can be considered in high transmission settings, meaning where those who are targeted vaccination have been, majority exposed to dengue virus before.”
“The group also said that the vaccine should not be administered to children younger than nine years, and but can be administered nine years and older and should follow vaccination schedule of three doses,” said WHO Country Representative Gundo Weiler, as quoted by Manila Bulletin.
Weiler even said that the expert group will not replace the vaccine but will be introduced as part of the comprehensive strategy including “vector control treatment, care for those who are affected and having a strong surveillance system”.
He also added that the experts group will be focusing on three aspects namely, the safety of the vaccine, efficacy of the vaccine basing on the data gathered in Asia and Latin America, and lastly, the potential impact of the dengue vaccination if it is used in different “epidemiological settings based on mathematical modeling.”
Dengue is considered as the most widely spread mosquito-related virus in the last 60 years.
Dengue is a health condition wherein it is characterized by sudden high fever lasting for about two to seven days. Together with it are joint and muscle pain. Also, there will be pains behind the eyes, skin rashes, and nosebleeding. The patient wil also experience vomiting and difficulty in breathing.
Dengvaxia, the vaccine being introduced in schools in the Philippines is the world’s first-ever dengue vaccine.
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Sources: Philstar, Manila Bulletin