The Dengue School-Based Immunization program that commenced on Apr. 4 and has been administered to more than 300,000 schoolkids aged nine years and above in Regions III, IV-A, and National Capital Region (NCR) is now being expanded to Grade 4 pupils in the Central Visayas (Region VII).

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

The announcement of the expanded use of the dengue fever vaccine, Dengvaxia, was made during the annual celebration of the ASEAN Dengue Day in the country.

Related: Philippines FDA approves dengue vaccine, 1st in Asia

“This year’s ASEAN Dengue Day is a significant milestone in our country as we are expanding our dengue vaccination through a school-based immunization approach. We are the first country to introduce, adopt, and implement the first-ever dengue vaccine through the public health system and under the public school setting. With this breakthrough, we can now increase our immunization services to address a disease that is of public health importance,”  DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said.

As of June 4, 2016, a total of 49,904 suspected dengue cases, including 190 deaths were reported nationwide.

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