ILOILO City – More than 600,000 children in Western Visayas aged zero to 59 months have been vaccinated against measles-rubella (MR) and polio.
The month-long measles-rubella and oral polio vaccine supplementary immunization activity (MR-OPV SIA) will last until May 31.
This activity, under the “Chikiting Ligtas” campaign of the Department of Health (DOH), is being conducted nationwide to avert measles and polio outbreak.
As of May 16, 370,112 children aged nine months to 59 months, or 56.07 percent of the 660,054 target population, already received the MR vaccine, data from the DOH Region 6 showed.
The province of Negros Occidental posted the highest accomplishment at 65.64 percent or around 146,114 of its target population who were vaccinated against MR.
Guimaras came in second with 9,168 or 60.06 percent, followed by Aklan (27,706 or 54.11 percent), Iloilo province (8,436 or 52.88 percent), Capiz (33,236 or 52.33 percent), Antique (27,969 or 47.83 percent), Bacolod City (23,504 or 46.93 percent), and Iloilo City (16,979 or 45.44 percent).
Meanwhile, of the 769,881 target children aged zero to 59 months, 282,679 or 36.72 percent were vaccinated against polio.
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.
“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-6 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.”
He 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./PN
