ILOILO City — Western Visayas health authorities are racing to vaccinate more children against measles and rubella before the regional immunization campaign ends on Aug. 28, with only 36.5 percent coverage recorded despite nearly 150,000 children already receiving the vaccine.
As of 10 p.m. on Aug. 17, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that 149,021 children had been immunized under the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).
The figures showed wide differences in vaccination coverage across the region, underscoring the need to intensify efforts to reach children during the remaining days of the campaign.
Capiz posted the highest vaccination coverage at 43.5 percent, followed by Iloilo province at 37.4 percent and Antique at 37.3 percent.
Aklan registered 30.8 percent coverage, Guimaras 30.7 percent, while Iloilo City had the lowest reported rate at 29.7 percent.
DOH urged parents and guardians of children aged six to 59 months to bring them to vaccination sites, stressing that measles and rubella are contagious diseases that can cause serious complications, hospitalization and even death.
With the MR-SIA scheduled only until Aug. 28, the health department emphasized the need for families to identify available vaccination sites and have eligible children immunized while the campaign remains underway.
“Gamay na lang ka mga inadlaw kag matapos na ang MR-SIA, aton bal-anon kun sa diin ang mga lugar nga pwede naton mapabakunahan kag matagaan pa gid sang proteksyon batok sa tipdas kag makayha ang aton mga kabataan,” DOH Region 6 stated in a social media post.
The agency also credited health workers, local government units and other stakeholders for sustaining the vaccination drive throughout Western Visayas.
“Sa MR-SIA, kada isa may papel sa pagprotektar sang aton kabataan. Padayon kita nga magbinuligay para sa isa ka mas luwas kag mas protektado nga henerasyon,” it added.
The MR-SIA is part of the government’s public health strategy to strengthen community protection against the vaccine-preventable measles and rubella./PN
