Religion stalls Baguio immunization campaign

Health officials in Baguio City on Saturday raised concern over the continued increase in the number of measles cases in the region.

This, as they noted that one of the reasons for the spike in number of cases aside from the scare generated by the Dengvaxia controversy, was the belief by some parents that immunization was against their religion.

This prompted Mayor Mauricio Domogan to order an intensified information campaign urging parents in the city’s 128 barangays to have their children vaccinated against not only measles but also Japanese encephalitis.

Earlier, city health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo had reported measles cases in the city for this year already reached 147, compared to only four cases during the same period last year.

Domogan also talked with some religious leaders and urged them to allow the children of their members to undergo the government’s immunization programs.