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21-Feb-12, 10:10 PM | Philippine News Agency

CANDABA, Pampanga -- Several mothers with newborn babies here lauded the Department of Health (DOH) plan to include rota virus vaccination in its “Expanded Program for Immunization” (EPI) this year.

Buding Dela Pena, mother for a three-month-old baby girl, said the private clinics in this town are already offering rota virus vaccination.

However, Dela Pena said that many could not afford to pay for the vaccination because it is expensive.

"The daily expenses on buying milk is already a problem for us. More so the rota virus vaccine. That's why when we heard about the plan of government to offer it for free, we are indeed so happy,” she said.

Another mother of a two-month-old baby boy said that the current Aquino administration appeared to be serious in bringing the best health for the new born babies.

"We hope that the program would go on continuously for the health benefit of our babies," she said.

It was reported that the free rota virus vaccine will be available in local health centers late 2012.

The said oral rota virus vaccine is expected to benefit children coming from the poorest 5.2 million families.

The Philippines is the first country in Asia to include rota virus vaccine in its national immunization program. The inclusion of rota virus vaccine in national immunization program is also a step towards achieving the country's Millennium Development Goal.

Rota virus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis (vomiting and severe diarrhea) among children worldwide.

It is also the second leading killer of children aged five years or less in the Philippines and worldwide.

Study revealed that every minute, one child dies of diarrhea worldwide.

In the Philippines, at least 13 children under five years old died every day due to diarrhea. 

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Moms laud DOH's vaccination drive vs acute gastroenteritis among children