CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Governor Lilia Pineda ordered all local health offices in Pampanga to intensify massive vaccination and information dissemination against measles.
“We want to reiterate the importance of vaccination and strongly encourage the public to have their children vaccinated since measles vaccine is free and safe,” she said.
For his part, Provincial Health Office Chief Dr. Marcelo Jaochico said the province supports the house-to-house immunization campaign of Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that children are protected from various diseases.
Aside from vaccination, Pineda also ordered the transfer of infected patients to the newly constructed Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital Annex in San Luis town for close monitoring, observation and examination.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is transferred from one person to another by sneezing, coughing and close personal contact. Its signs and symptoms include cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, fever, and skin rashes lasting more than three days.
Its complications include diarrhea, middle ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis, malnutrition, blindness, and even death.