DOH reiterates call for kids to be vaccinated vs measles, rubella, polio

The Department of Health (DOH) again urged parents to have their kids vaccinated against measles, rubella, and polio.

The DOH report that as of February 21, 2021, 73% or 3,721,186 of nationwide target children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella, while 72.9% or 3,483,423 against polio as part of the second phase of the Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccination Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA).

The immunization program was launched on February 1, covering regions in both Luzon and Visayas, and will run until February 28.

In Luzon, the measles-rubella vaccination program in the National Capital Region has covered 71.3% or 726,006 children aged 9-59 month-old.

Regions III and IV-A have vaccinated 826,870 (85.4%) and 913,822 (70.2%) children aged 9-59 months, respectively.

For the polio vaccination, 964,249 (85.1%) children aged (0-59 mos.) have been vaccinated in Region III, while 1,069,791 (70.2%) children have been vaccinated in Region IV-A.

In Visayas, 516,748 (78.2%) children in Region VI; 422,104 (60.9%) children in Region VII; and 315,636 (68.8%) children in Region VIII were inoculated against measles and rubella.

For polio, 588,197 (76.4%) children in Region VI, 497,067 (60.9%) children in Region VII, and 364,119 (68.0%) children in Region VIII have been vaccinated.

As of February 21, the target number of children left to be vaccinated remains above 1.3 million for measles and rubella vaccine and 1.2 million for oral polio vaccine.

With only three days left in the immunization program, the DOH, together with development partners and concerned Local Government Units, is immensely determined to double down on efforts to achieve the 95% target coverage to achieve herd immunity from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella and polio.

“We call on our local government units, who have better access to their constituents, to pitch in and assure our mothers that our health centers are safe places where they can get their children vaccinated. As long as we are able to comply with our minimum public health standards, as well as the protocols of the health centers, we can be protected from Covid-19,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The DOH likewise urges all parents and guardians of children to participate in the free immunization program. “We can decrease the prevalence of cases of measles, rubella and polio through vaccination. These vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective for over 40 years, and parents need not have second thoughts. Above all, we can prevent unnecessary deaths that are caused by these illnesses. This is why we have tirelessly been urging our mothers to have their children vaccinated,” Sec. Duque assured.