The Davao City Health Office (CHO) will conduct a mass supplemental immunization for children zero to 59 months old against measles, rubella (German measles), and polio on May 2 to 31.
CHO Technical Services Division chief Dr. Julinda Acosta, during Thursday’s (April 20) Madayaw Davao program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio, said, “Additional protection ni sa atong mga kabataan (for our children).”
She said vaccines will be available at the city’s 18 district health centers and barangay facilities while barangay health workers will also do house-to-house immunization.
“Among gina-awhag ang mga ginikanan na pabakunahan ilang mga anak tungod sa possible threat sa outbreak sa tipdas ug polio kay nibaba ang atong immunization coverage sa kabataan (We encourage parents to vaccinate their children because of the possible threat of measles and polio outbreaks due to our low immunization coverage of children),” Acosta said.
She attributed the low immunization rate in recent years to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in parents not bringing their children to their scheduled vaccination in health centers for fear of infection.
The CHO official added that it is still a long way before the city achieves herd immunity against measles and polio.
The health office targets to immunize 561,799 below five years old with the measles vaccine and 189,995 with the oral polio vaccine.
Since the Philippines was declared polio-free, Acosta said CHO wants to keep it that way in Davao City.
She assured parents, “The vaccines, which we have been using for decades, are safe and effective. Makasalbar gyud sya ug kinabuhi (It can save lives).”
Acosta encouraged parents to visit their nearest health centers to get their children immunized against measles, rubella, and polio. CIO
