ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is urging parents to have their children, aged 12 months and below, vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles.
The call comes as the province once again failed to meet its target for fully immunized children (FIC) against measles in 2024, reaching only 73.66%, slightly improving from 68.46% in 2023, but still far from the 95% target for children under one year old.
“So, the target is 95%, but we have yet to reach that goal. This is why we continue to campaign for parents to bring their children to health centers for immunization. This will protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases and prevent severe illness or even death,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
According to IPHO’s 2024 report, only five out of 43 localities, including Passi City, achieved at least 95% immunization coverage for measles:
* San Enrique – 100%
* Cabatuan – 98.66%
* Barotac Nuevo – 97.24%
* Tigbauan – 96.40%
* Miag-ao – 95.50%
Dr. Quiñon emphasized that children should receive their first dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at nine months and a second dose at 12 months to ensure 97% protection against measles.
For infants who are not yet vaccinated, she advised parents to limit their exposure to crowded places, avoid allowing others to kiss them, and prevent contact with individuals showing symptoms of any illness due to their weakened immune systems.
3 Confirmed Measles Cases
So far this year, the province has recorded three confirmed measles cases:
* a 31-year-old male from Barangay Culasi, Ajuy, who had traveled to Metro Manila for a week – Upon returning via roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel, he developed fever, sore throat, white spots in the mouth, rashes, and diarrhea. He was hospitalized, and his test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) confirmed measles.
* a 16-year-old male from Iloilo City, currently residing in Barangay Bongco, Pototan – While he had no travel history, his sibling had recently returned from Metro Manila. He later exhibited measles-like symptoms, indicating possible exposure to the virus.
* an 11-month-old baby from Cabatuan, who had only received one dose of the MMR vaccine – The infant, with no known exposure or travel history, presented fever, rashes, and conjunctivitis.
Dr. Quiñon confirmed that out of 37 specimens sent to RITM for testing, three tested positive, 21 tested negative, while four results are still pending. Fortunately, all three patients have recovered.
Measles Poses Serious Risks
Measles is highly contagious, particularly among unvaccinated individuals, and can lead to severe complications such as ear infections, meningitis, pneumonia, or even death. In extreme cases, it may cause blindness.
The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) continues to work closely with municipal health offices (MHOs) to improve information dissemination and vaccination advocacy.
“We urge parents to bring their children to health centers for free immunization. For those in remote areas, midwives regularly visit barangay health stations on scheduled days. Please take advantage of this free service,” Dr. Quiñon added./PN
