The Davao City Health Office kicked off Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the Measles-Rubella (MR) and the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) Supplemental Immunization Activity in all barangays in Davao City.
CHO Officer-in-Charge Dr. Marjorie Culas, in an interview with the media after the weekly flag ceremony, said that stationery and house-to-house immunization will be implemented in districts from May 2- May 31, 2023
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“Nag-create nata og mga barangay vaccination teams, gi-create na sa atong lain lain nga district health offices, naa ta’y vaccinators, naa ta’y guide, naa ta’y encoders naa ta’y volunteer workers. (The barangay vaccination teams were created by the various district health centers, we have vaccinators, guides, encoders, and volunteer workers),” Culas said.
Culas said that they target to inoculate around 181,000 children (0-5 months) against Polio and around 167,000 children (9 to 59 months) against Measles and Rubella.
She said that their activity is supplemental immunization, meaning this is on top of the immunization provided for measles and oral medicines for Polio at the health centers.
“Naay gipagwas ang DOH nga advisory para sa missed children sa Oral Polio ang atong hatagan karong activity nato. Pero sa Measles Rubella isuyod gyud nato tanan nga 9 months hangtod 59 months regardless og unsa ilang immunization history, pasabot maskin nahatagan ka 30 days ago, or niaging unom ka bulan nahatagan ka gihapon. (The DOH has issued the advisory that Oral Polio [Vaccine] should be given to those who missed it. But for the Measles-Rubella we will really find those who are 9 months up to 59 months regardless of their immunization status, this means that included are those who were given 30 days ago or the last 6 months),” she said.
Culas said that since January 2023, the CHO recorded only one case of measles with no death. She said that as for Polio they were not able to record any case. Regular monitoring is also conducted in Davao City rivers and canals for traces of the Poliovirus
“It was pre-pandemic when our Davao River got positive for Poliovirus, so far wala nata (we do not have any new recorded any) since then,” Culas said.
Culas urged the public’s cooperation in the supplemental immunization saying that the number of immunized children should reach the target of 95 percent because 70 or 60 percent coverage may result in possible outbreaks of the Measles-Rubella and Polio viruses, which are very harmful to children. CIO
