At least 192,708 children aged six to 59 months across the Negros Island Region (NIR) have received supplemental measles-rubella vaccines, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sept. 2.
Dr. Deab Eltanal, acting chief of the DOH-NIR Local Health Division, said the figure represents 43.9 percent of the region’s target of 437,586 children, as of Sept. 1.
Eltanal said the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), which began Aug. 10, has been extended nationwide until Sept. 4 from the original Aug. 28 deadline to allow more children to receive the vaccines.
“We aim to reach a 95 percent immunization accomplishment so we can reach herd immunity against the disease,” he told the Philippine News Agency.
Eltanal attributed the low turnout partly to misinformation circulating online about the supplemental immunization program.
He urged local government units (LGUs), health centers, and other stakeholders to help educate parents and encourage them to have their children vaccinated.
“That is why we are asking the LGUs, the health centers, and other stakeholders to help convince parents that the vaccines are safe and administering these to their children will give them additional protection from the disease,” he said.
Eltanal said LGUs with low vaccination turnout have been prioritized under the extended “Ligtas Tigdas” campaign, although several other areas have also opted to continue the immunization drive despite posting higher accomplishment rates.
DOH-NIR records showed that the LGUs prioritized for the extension are Guihulngan, Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Bais City, Bayawan City, Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, and Sibulan in Negros Oriental; Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor; and Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.
Aside from the measles-rubella vaccines, health workers are also administering Vitamin A to qualified children during the campaign.
Eltanal said the DOH has sufficient stocks of the supplemental measles-rubella vaccines, which are provided free of charge.
He encouraged parents, guardians, and other persons caring for children in the target age group to visit their local health centers or other designated vaccination sites to have their children immunized and to seek clarification from health personnel regarding any concerns about the program. ||
