Iloilo scores second highest vaccination coverage in W. Visayas

By John Noel E. Herrera

Iloilo province has so far notched the second highest coverage for Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA), according to the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD).

Data from DOH-WV CHD as of June 1, 2023, indicated that 132,124 children aged 9 to 59 months in Iloilo have already been vaccinated for Measles and Rubella.

The number is 81.78 percent of the target population of 161,566 children, while Negros Occidental leads this year’s campaign with an accomplishment rate of 85.95 percent.

Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said that DOH-6 also cited Iloilo province for having the highest number of Local Government Units (LGUs) with 85 percent and above accomplishment rate.

“Although number two lang kita in Region 6, pero kita ang gin recognize sang region with the highest number of LGUs with 85 percent above nga rate. May ara na kita 23 ka banwa nga naka 85 percent and above na (accomplishment rate),” Quiñon said.

Records from IPHO showed that 23 municipalities in Iloilo reached the 85 percent and above vaccination rate as of May 31, 2023.

Sara, Batad, Lemery, Sta. Barbara, Mina hit 100 percent and above; Tigbauan, Miag-ao, San Enrique, Barotac Viejo, Dingle, Leganes, Guimbal, Tubungan, Concepcion, and San Dionisio (95 percent and above), and Barotac Nuevo, San Rafael, Pototan, Cabatuan, Leon, Duenas, Estancia, and Oton (85 percent and above).

Despite scoring the second highest MR OPV coverage, Quiñon still encouraged the public, especially parents, to let their children get vaccinated, noting that the province is still far from the target rate of 95 percent.

“Nagapanawagan gid ako sa mga ginikanan, all volunteers nga i-encourage gid naton ang mga ginikanan nga ipabakuna na ang ila mga kabataan,” Quiñon said.

“Kung sila ni daan hindi mabakunahan kag magka-measle, possible sila mag suffer sa mga complications such as ma dehydration siya kay gina suka, lupot, and pwede nga magka pneumonia, inflamation sang brain,” she added.

The PHO chief noted that there is still a lot of time for the province to achieve the target rate, noting that DOH extended the MR OPV SIA in selected provinces, including Iloilo, until June 15, 2023.

“Gin-extend ini asta sa June 15 kay wala naton nalab-ot ang target nga 95 percent for Region 6. Ang province, unfortunately, wala pa man kalab-ot and wala man sang province sa region nga nakalab-ot so far,” Quiñon said.

The DOH-6 report showed that the region only reached 77.15 percent coverage on the Measles-Rubella vaccination as of June 1, 2023.