ILOILO City – Around 30,000 children across Western Visayas were vaccinated against measles-rubella and polio as of Tuesday, May 2.
For measles-rubella, 15,721 children aged nine months to 59 months were immunized, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Here is the breakdown per province and highly urbanized city: Aklan (1,262), Antique (430), Capiz (2,839), Guimaras (214), Iloilo (2,937), Negros Occidental (5,574), Bacolod City (807), and Iloilo City (1,616).
DOH data also showed that 14,049 children aged zero to 59 months received oral polio vaccine: Aklan (1,193), Antique (512), Capiz (1,394), Guimaras (247), Iloilo (2,209), Negros Occidental (5,621), Bacolod City (999), and Iloilo City (1,874).
In coordination with local government units (LGUs), DOH Region 6 targets to vaccinate 660,054 children aged nine to 59 months against measles and rubella and 769,881 children aged zero to 59 months against polio during the month-long measles-rubella and oral polio vaccine supplementary immunization activity (MR-OPV SIA) from May 1 to 31.
Some LGUs started the MR-OPV SIA on May 1, despite being a holiday, to give working parents and guardians the opportunity to bring their children under five years old in vaccination sites and avail themselves of these life-saving vaccines.
More than 170 mobile, fixed sites and household service delivery including covered courts, plazas, chapels and daycare centers were turned into vaccination areas to bring these health services closer to the eligible clients.
On May 3, the municipality of Numancia in Aklan province hosted the grand launch of MR-OPV SIA to signify the province-wide’s participation.
This activity is being conducted nationwide to avert the risk of measles and polio outbreak.
“With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH emphasized that the country cannot afford to deal with another outbreak from measles, rubella and polio which will overwhelm our health system even more and put more burden among frontline health workers who are already overstretched,” said Dr. Adriano P. Suba-an, DOH-WV CHD director.
He added, “More importantly, no child should suffer and die from diseases that can be prevented by the vaccine that is available for free at the health centers. And these vaccines have long been proven safe and effective.”
Suba-an encouraged parents and guardians of all eligible children to participate in the campaign and bring their children to the nearest health center or vaccination site in their area. (With a report from DOH-WV CHD)/PN
