CHIKITING LIGTAS. Corazon Flores, regional director of the Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development (DOH CLCHD), gives a dose of oral polio vaccine to a child during the kick-off ceremony of the Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) at Waltermart in Barangay San Agustin, City of San Fernando, Pampanga province on Tuesday (May 2, 2023). Flores encouraged parents to bring their children nine to 59 months old to the nearest immunization post to receive measles, rubella, and polio supplemental vaccines. (Photo courtesy of the DOH CLCHD)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development (DOH CLCHD) on Tuesday called on parents to fully protect their children against diseases that can be prevented by immunization.
DOH CLCHD Regional Director Corazon Flores, during the kick-off ceremony of the Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) dubbed "Chikiting Ligtas" at Waltermart in Barangay San Agustin here, encouraged parents to bring their children nine to 59 months old to the nearest immunization hub to receive measles, rubella, and polio supplemental vaccines.
“Pumunta po tayo sa pinakamalapit na health center o sa mga vaccination sites na itinalaga ng local na pamahalaan at pabakunahan ang inyong mga anak ngayong buong buwan ng Mayo. Ang bakuna kontra tigdas at rubella ay para sa mga batang edad 9 hanggang 59 na buwan at ang bakuna kontra Polio (OPV) naman ay para sa mga batang edad 0 hanggang 59 na buwan ang magbibigay ng dagdag proteksyon kontra polio (Let us go to the nearest health centers or vaccination sites which were designated by the local government and let you children be vaccinated this entire month of May. The vaccine against measles and rubella is for children aged 9 to 59 months old and the vaccine against polio (OPV) is for children aged 0 to 59 months old that will provide additional protection against polio),” Flores said during the event.
The kickoff ceremony at Waltermart coincided with the start of the barangay-based vaccination activities that will end on May 31.
The MR-OPV SIA launching calls for local leaders, health implementers, parents, and guardians to join the campaign in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases by keeping up-to-date vaccines that are free, safe, and effective.
Through these efforts, she said that “every child will have access to life-saving vaccines and that no children are left behind.”
City Mayor Vilma Calauag also encouraged parents to let their children get the vaccines.
“Maari po kayong makipag-ugnayan sa mga barangay health centers at rural health units upang maipabakuna ang ating mga anak. Isa sa ating tinutukan ay ang mga programang pangkalusugan lalo na sa ating mga kabataan (You may coordinate with the barangay health centers and rural health units to get our children be vaccinated. One of the programs that we are giving focus is health, especially to the children),” she said.
Other local government units in the province likewise rolled out house-to-house immunization in an effort to curb the transmission of the diseases.
In Angeles City, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. instructed the city health officials to administer measles-rubella vaccines to a total of 35,058 children ages 9-59 months, as well as 41,010 kids, ages 0-59 months old with oral polio vaccines which equates to a 100 percent target.
Lazatin, who led the roll-out activity, said the grassroots-level program aims to hasten the delivery of the MR-OPV SIA to the public by bringing it directly to the households of the recipients. (PNA)
