By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Three local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Norte have breached the 95-percent vaccination benchmark as the Department of Health (DOH)–Ilocos Region pushes for a final surge in the measles-rubella vaccination campaign.
As the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) enters its final week, Carasi leads the three municipalities with a 100-percent coverage rate, followed by Currimao at 96.5 percent and Dingras at 95.6 percent, based on DOH data as of August 23.
The regional vaccination coverage, however, stood at 41.9 percent, with 186,376 children vaccinated across the region.
Of the total, 25,184 were children aged 6 to 12 months, 34,733 were 13 to 23 months old, and 126,459 were between 24 and 59 months.
DOH–Ilocos Regional Director Helen D. Tobias credited LGUs, frontline health workers and community volunteers for sustaining the campaign despite heavy rains, flooding and difficulties in reaching communities.
“Taos-pusong saludo at pasasalamat sa ating mga health workers! Sa kabila ng malakas na ulan, pagbaha, at hamon sa pagbiyahe, patuloy kayong nagsisikap na maihatid ang MR SIA at Vitamin A Supplementation sa ating mga komunidad,” Tobias said.
She urged parents and guardians of children aged 6 to 59 months to take advantage of the remaining days of the campaign and have their children vaccinated against measles and rubella, while also receiving Vitamin A supplementation.
“Sa mga magulang at guardians ng mga batang 6–59 months old, samantalahin po natin ang serbisyong hatid ng ating health workers. Pabakunahan kontra tigdas at tigdas-hangin at papatakan ng Vitamin A ang ating mga anak. Sa bawat batang napoprotektahan, may kinabukasang napangangalagaan,” Tobias said.
The DOH reiterated that the vaccines are safe, effective and free.
Parents and guardians with eligible children who have not yet received their vaccination are urged to proceed to the nearest Rural Health Unit or designated community vaccination site before the campaign concludes at the end of the week.
With only days left, health authorities are counting on LGUs and communities to intensify their efforts and bring more eligible children into the vaccination program.
The three Ilocos Norte municipalities that have already crossed the 95-percent mark provide a benchmark for other LGUs as the region makes its final push to expand protection against measles and rubella.
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