ILOILO CITY (PNA) - The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DoH-CHD) here in Western Visayas said another free vaccine for babies will be introduced to the public this month. Dr. Renilyn Reyes of the DoH-CHD said the new vaccine for infants is the MMR vaccine or measles, mumps and rubella. Dr. Reyes said measles could lead to pneumonia, while rubella could make babies deaf, blind, prone to heart defects and could end up mentally retarded.
The DoH boasts that the vaccines will be injected to babies between 12 to 15 months old in just one dose, she said. The MMR vaccine will be available to the municipalities all over Western Visayas within the year. The DoH will be training the local health workers on how to administer the vaccine. The DoH admits the vaccine is already available in private hospitals and clinics. But it was not readily given to the public because of its very high cost.
