Celebrity parents Christine Bersola-Babao, Paolo Abrera, and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan have one thing in common: they’ve all been infected by the dreaded Dengue virus in the past that’s why they stepped up their fight against the disease by making sure that what happened to them won’t happen to their kids.

This is the reason why Sanofi Pasteur, the company that manufactures and develops the WHO-recognized Dengue vaccine, chose the three celebrities to become the face of the #BeAWall campaign last October 25, 2016 held at the Novotel Hotel in Araneta Center, Cubao. The #BeAWall campaign aims to build awareness among Filipino parents and inform them how they can better protect themselves and their children against the deadly mosquito-borne disease. It also aims to educate them about the multi-pronged ways to prevent dengue infection: vector-control, disease information and vaccination.

Based on national surveillance data collected between 2011 and 2015, an average of 220 dengue cases were reported in the country every day. This puts the Philippines in among the top three countries in the world affected by it. This is the reason why the Department of Health (DOH) announced on January 4, 2016 that one million (1M) nine-year-old Filipinos enrolled in government schools in Region 3, Region 4-A and the National Capital Region will be the first beneficiaries of the government-procured dengue vaccine.

With the launch of the #BeAWall campaign, Sanofi Pasteur hopes to stop the rapid growth rate of the disease every year and projected an estimated 24.2% reduction in dengue cases in the country over a five-year period.

“It’s great news that there is a dengue vaccine now available in the market. As a public affairs anchor, I’m on top of the news everyday and it’s very alarming to note the rising dengue cases from different regions of our country. It’s definitely a relief for Filipino parents out there especially a father like me to be able to visit our doctors today and have our kids vaccinated,” Paolo Abrera said.

Also making a pledge to raise awareness about the disease is multi-awarded actress Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.

“As responsible Filipino moms, let our voices be heard to raise awareness on dengue and let’s spread the good news that it is now a vaccine preventable disease. Each of us can now be a wall against dengue,” she said.

Broadcaster Christine Bersola-Babao, who suffered from dengue several times in the past, expressed her support for the dengue vaccine.

“I am a mother of two and I want my kids to be safe from life-threatening diseases like dengue. Aside from the vector control measures that we have been doing, we really need a new tool that will help us in fighting the epidemic and vaccination is the answer. I encourage other Filipino moms to ask their doctors about dengue vaccination today,” she shared.

The Dengue Vaccine manufactured and being developed by Sanofi Pasteur is commercially known as Dengvaxia®. For more details about the vaccine, visit www.sanofipasteur.com.

For Frequently Asked Questions about the Dengue Vaccine, visit the official website of the World Health Organization.