LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Health - Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) regional office for Bicol is encouraging parents to take advantage of supplemental immunization activities (SIA) to boost the health of their children.
Dr. Monrey Isaiah Mancilla, regional medical coordinator for the national immunization program, in an interview on Friday, said the health drive aims to give children boosters for vaccine-preventable diseases.
The immunization-giving activities will start on Monday (Oct. 26) and continue until Nov. 25 this year.
"Children aged nine-month-old to less than five years old will get boosters against measles and rubella, while children from zero to 59 months will get oral polio vaccine," Mancilla said.
He said that for Bicol, they are expecting at least 1.3 million children to be covered by the campaign.
Mancilla also said that the immunization activities would be held in open areas to allow physical distancing.
"Yes, we acknowledge the fact that the babies will be out with the guardians for the activity, and instructions and standard operating procedures will be followed to ensure that the immunization session will be safe," he said. (PNA)
