The Department of Health in Calabarzon has started profiling Dengvaxia cases in different provinces of the region to be able to locate recipients of the controversial dengue vaccine and establish a post-vaccination baseline database, which will be used in the monitoring of their health status.
DoH Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said the profile of the recipients and their scheduled physical examination will generate evidence-based intervention needed for their evaluation.
An individual’s health profile is important to manage the health information that will include a comprehensive summary of their medical or health history, Janairo said. This must include personal health history, medical conditions, medications and emergency contact information.
“It will help health workers to clearly organize critical information of every Dengvaxia vaccinee,” he said.
Without proper action, Janairo said the Dengvaxia confusion in the country will continue to bring “scare and panic” not only to affected individuals and their families but also to the rest of the country.
“Not only that, it will cause lower vaccination coverage and distrust but will also affect the psychological behavior of the children who were vaccinated,” he emphasized.
The regional office has been monitoring Dengvaxia recipients closely and providing necessary medical support every time a need arises.
Janairo said parent leaders of various provinces were also tapped to provide additional support in the reporting and monitoring of vaccinees in their respective areas.
According to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, a total of 16,694 Adverse Event Following Dengvaxia Immunization were recorded from Dec.1, 2017 to July 27, 2018, leading to 52 deaths. Over half of the 8,553 vaccinees, aged 2 to 46 years old, were female.
Laguna province had the highest number of reported AEFDI cases with 4,998 (30 percent of the total) followed by Batangas with 4,476 (27 percent), Cavite at 3,336 (20 percent), Quezon at 2,399 (14 percent) and Rizal at 1,486 (9 percent).
There were 1,405 AEFDI cases admitted to hospital and 321 (23%) diagnosed with dengue fever.
“We will work to complete the profiling of patients before the end of this year to be able to have an accurate data and be able to know where to locate each recipient and improve our ability to manage them efficiently and avoid potential hazards to their health,” Janairo said.
