FREE VACCINE. Sarah Jana M. Austria, (left), a nurse from the City Health Office of Dasmarinas City, Cavite province, administers a mass oral polio vaccine to children 5 years old and below at the barangay hall of Salitran 3 in Dasmarinas on Wednesday (May 11, 2022). Children 9 to 59 months old will be given the measles-rubella vaccine while those 0 to 59 months old will be provided with an oral polio vaccine. (PNA photo by Gil Calinga)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Department of Health - Center for Health Development in the Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) will conduct a simultaneous immunization activity against measles, measles-rubella, and polio, targeting over 935,130 children below 5 years old in the Ilocos Region.
In a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency - Pangasinan on Friday, DOH-CHD-1 medical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis said of the total number, 431,162 are the target for measles and measles-rubella vaccination and 503,968 for oral polio, from May 2 to 30.
Some 262,944 children in Pangasinan and 16,162 in Dagupan City are set to be immunized against measles and measles-rubella, 60,026 in La Union, 50,285 in Ilocos Sur, and 41,745 in Ilocos Norte, he said.
Of the total target number for oral polio, 307,548 are in Pangasinan and 18,915 in Dagupan City, 70,080 in La Union, 58,440 in Ilocos Sur, and 48,985 in Ilocos Norte, he added.
Bobis said the local government units (LGUs) will set up their vaccination sites either in their rural health units and city health offices, among other places.
“Ibang LGUs ay magkakaroon ng mobile vaccination staff para 'yong mga di makakapunta ay mabibigyan ng bakuna (Some LGUs will have their mobile vaccination to reach those who cannot go to the vaccination sites),” he said.
He added that immunization is the only way to prevent these diseases among children.
“Ito ay libreng bakuna at target nating mabakunahan ang 95 percent ng mga bata edad 5 pababa. Sila man ay nakatanggap na ng bakuna o hindi pa (This is a free vaccination and we target to inoculate 95 percent of the children below 5 years old. Whether they have already received the vaccination or not),” Bobis said.
He said the activity is geared toward preventing a measles outbreak in the region.
“Wala pang indikasyon na may measles outbreak pero para maiwasan sa mga susunod na arw o buwan isasagawa ang catch-up vaccination para sa mga nakamissed para maprotektahan ang mga bata at ang komunidad (There is still no indication of a measles outbreak but this is to prevent it in the coming days and months. So we are conducting the catch-up vaccination for those who have missed to get their children and the community protected,” he said.
He added that the coverage of vaccination for measles, measles-rubella, and polio in the region is still at 50 to 60 percent when it should have been 95 percent to ensure no measles outbreak in the future.
“It was due to the pandemic and restrictions, hence they do not have access to measles vaccines,” he said.
Aside from the vaccines, there will also be a Vitamin A supplementation for the eyesight of the children.
Measles rubella and measles are diseases that can be prevented but may lead to severe health conditions or death if not addressed properly.
Polio may inflict serious defects on children and may even lead to death. (PNA)
