AS PART of the government’s program to immediately respond to dengue cases, the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (JBLRMH) has implemented a fast lane for all individuals who will be inflicted with the disease.
The implementation of the Memorandum 2018-01 is in response to the Department of Health-Central Luzon's order to streamline dengue patients, particularly school children who received the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine under the agency’s mass immunization program, said JBLRMH Medical Center Chief II Monserrat Chichioco.
Chichioco said all patients with chief complaint of fever for one to five days will be brought to the Dengue Room Emergency Fast Lane and must present their dengue immunization identification cards (IDs) for proper reference.
She said patients may also avail themselves of the Rapid Dengue Test under the Medix System free of charge as part of the screening program. Individuals who show signs and symptoms will be advised for serum collection.
Those who were vaccinated with Dengvaxia will be counseled by the Infection Control Committee and will be registered on the Dengvaxia logbook for further monitoring. Admitted patients who were injected with one to three doses of the vaccine will be decked under the Department of Pediatrics, Chichioco said.
She also said that all dengue patients are qualified to avail themselves of the zero balance billing under the PhilHealth’s Point of Care program.
She said the National Government will extend all possible assistance to the dengue patients, even those who were not vaccinated with Dengvaxia, to at least minimize the repercussions of the incident.
She urged parents, especially school children who were vaccinated with Dengvaxia, to immediately bring their kids to the hospital when signs and symptoms occur.
“Huwag po kayong matakot sa bayarin dahil may programa po tayo para sa dengue. Ang isipin po ninyo ay ang kaligtasan ng inyong mga anak (Don't worry about the cost because we have a dengue program. Just think of your children's safety),” she reminded parents.
