KIDS' IMMUNIZATION. Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando, in a video message, urges parents to let their children be immunized against measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria (MR-TD) on Monday (Oct. 18, 2021). This was during the launching by the Department of Health, in collaboration with the provincial government, of the immunization program that would protect children from measles, polio, and rubella. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Bulacan)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the provincial government of Bulacan, launched on Monday an immunization program that would protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The community-based immunization program for the young population against the threats of measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria (MR-TD) will be implemented until December this year.
The move is part of the national immunization program which aims to increase vaccination coverage among the targeted population groups.
It will provide free, safe, and effective vaccines to children aged 6-7 and 12-13 years old to prevent disease outbreaks related to MR-TD through the help of the local government units (LGUs) that will assist and mobilize the vaccination in each barangay.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando, in a video message during the launching, urged parents and guardians to bring their children for vaccination, which is crucial considering that the province is still fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) virus.
He warned his constituents of a possible outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases if they will refuse to submit their children for inoculation.
“Ayon po sa mga pag-aaral ng mga epidemiologist, sa darating na taong 2022 o 2023 ay posibleng magkakaroon ng measles outbreak sa ating bansa dahil nangyayari itong tuwing tatlong taon. Ang huling measles outbreak po ng bansa ay taong 2019. Mga kababayan ko, huwag po nating hayaan na mangyari ito na magkarooon ng panibagong outbreak sa ating lalawigan. Hinihikayat ko po ang mga tagapag-alaga at mga magulang na pabakunahan po ninyo ang inyong mga anak (Based on the studies of epidemiologists, there is a possibility of measles outbreak in the country in the year 2022 or 2023 because it happens every three years. The last measles outbreak in the country was in 2019. My provincemates, let us not allow another outbreak to happen in our province. I am encouraging the guardians and parents to have their children immunized),” Fernando said.
Aside from this, the governor said routine immunizations are continuously being provided to infants and toddlers below 24 months old.
The DOH earlier issued Department Memorandum No. 2021-0383 containing the "Guidelines in the Conduct of 2021 Community-Based Rubella-Tetanus-Diphtheria Immunization during the Covid-19 pandemic" to guide LGUs and health workers in properly conducting immunization services alongside the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination. (PNA)
