ILOILO City – Nearly 166,000 young children in Western Visayas remained unvaccinated against measles and rubella as of Aug. 28, prompting health authorities to extend the regionwide supplemental immunization campaign by another week.
The Department of Health (DOH) extended the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) until Sept. 4, giving parents and guardians more time to have their children protected against the two vaccine-preventable diseases.
The vaccination campaign was originally scheduled to end on Aug. 28.
As of the morning of Aug. 28, only 242,865, or 59.5 percent, of the 408,114 children aged six months to 59 months targeted for vaccination in Western Visayas had received the vaccines since the campaign started on Aug. 10.
This left 165,249 children, or 40.5 percent of the regional target, still unreached.
Iloilo province recorded the highest vaccination accomplishment rate in the region, with 111,320 of its 172,360 target children vaccinated, or 64.6 percent.
Antique followed with 35,137 of 56,730 children, or 61.9 percent; Guimaras, 9,592 of 16,637, or 57.7 percent; Capiz, 38,179 of 68,665, or 55.6 percent; Iloilo City, 21,303 of 40,973, or 52 percent; and Aklan, 27,334 of 52,749, or 51.8 percent.
With thousands of children still needing protection, Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon renewed her appeal to parents and guardians to bring eligible children to the nearest Rural Health Unit (RHU) or vaccination site designated by their local government units.
Parents who need assistance may also approach Barangay Health Workers who can help them bring their children to vaccination centers.
Quiñon also sought to allay parents’ fears about vaccination, acknowledging that their concerns stem from wanting to ensure the safety of their children.
She stressed that while the decision to have a child vaccinated ultimately rests with the parents, they should weigh the risks involved.
Measles, she explained, is among the most contagious diseases in the world. A person without immunity who is exposed to someone infected with measles faces a high probability of contracting the disease.
The risk posed by the disease, she said, is far greater than the possible side effects parents may fear following immunization.
“After sang vaccination, possible nga ang imo bata maka-experience sang fever, soreness sa injection site and mild rash pero ining mga reactions are usually mild and temporary,” said Quiñon.
She emphasized the importance of parents closely monitoring their children after immunization.
Health workers provide parents with instructions on possible reactions and warning signs that should be watched following vaccination.
Parents are also advised to immediately report to their RHU any unexpected medical event experienced by their children after receiving the vaccine./PN
