JORDAN, Guimaras – Two weeks after its kickoff, the Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA) in this town already covered 78 percent of its target.
As of Feb. 12, 2,864 children from zero to 59 months old already received OPV vaccines, data from Jordan’s Rural Health Unit (RHU) showed.
Of Jordan’s 14 barangays, Barangay Balcon Maravilla recorded the most OPV recipients at 193 children (116 percent), followed by Barangay Espinosa (98.63 percent or 144 children) and Barangay Alaguisoc (93.94 percent or 248 children).
As for the MR immunization, 2,428 Jordan children (76 percent) from nine months old to 59 months old have been served.
Barangay Balcon Maravilla had the widest coverage (112 percent or 162 children) followed by Barangay Buluangan (94.44 percent or 68 children) and Barangay Morobuan (90.27 percent or 204 children).
According to Mayor Ruben Corpuz, this week Jordan’s Rural Health Team will conduct a “catch-up immunization” targeting children who were not immunized these past two weeks. Local government midwives and nurses will do the vaccinations.
Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. It can be serious and even fatal for small children.
Measles’ signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. These include fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek — also called Koplik’s spots – and a skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another.
Rubella is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash. While this infection may cause mild symptoms or even no symptoms in most people, it can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.
Rubella isn’t the same as measles but the two illnesses share some symptoms, including the red rash. It is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn’t as infectious or as severe as measles.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling disease caused by the poliovirus. Its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.
Signs and symptoms, which can last up to 10 days, include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, back pain or stiffness, neck pain or stiffness, pain or stiffness in the arms or legs, and muscle weakness or tenderness./PN
