ILOILO – With measles and rubella continuing to spread in communities where children remain unvaccinated, provincial health authorities have launched an immunization drive targeting 172,360 children, urging parents to reject fear and misinformation that could leave their children vulnerable to the diseases.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a widespread skin rash, and may lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis and death.
Rubella, also a viral infection, usually causes fever and rash and may be mild in children, but it can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women because infection during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or serious birth defects in the baby.
Vaccination remains the most effective protection against both diseases.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), working with city and municipal health offices across the province’s 43 local government units (LGUs), vaccinated 13,194 children aged six months to 59 months on August 10 alone, the opening day of the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).
The first-day turnout represented 7.65 percent of the province’s 172,360 target children, with the province racing to reach the remaining children before the immunization campaign ends on August 28.
“As of August 10, a total of 13,194 children have received their measles-rubella vaccine,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
Quiñon appealed to parents and caregivers to choose protection over fear and facts over rumors, stressing that measles and rubella continue to circulate in communities because many children remain unvaccinated.
“Choose protection over fear. Choose facts over rumors. Choose science over misinformation. Most importantly, choose your child’s future,” Quiñon said.
The measles-rubella vaccine is being administered free of charge at health centers and fixed or temporary vaccination sites designated by LGUs.
All children aged six months to 59 months are eligible for vaccination regardless of their previous immunization status.
“The measles and rubella vaccines are just like all others vaccines in the routine immunization program. They have been proven safe and effective kag ang aton health workers are fully prepared to monitor and manage side effects immediately. So, ginapanawgan ko ang tanan nga ginikanan kag caregivers, dal-on naton ang aton mga kabataan, six months to 59 months old, regardless of their vaccination status, sa aton nearest fixed or temporary vaccinated sites scheduled by your LGUs for immunization,” Quiñon said.
Among the LGUs, Passi City recorded the highest number of children vaccinated on the first day at 1,934 out of its 7,919 target, followed by Pototan with 854 of 6,562; Ajuy with 718 of 5,102; and Lambunao with 643 of 5,631.
San Dionisio vaccinated 555 of its 3,503 target children; Barotac Nuevo, 547 of 5,022; Calinog, 541 of 5,631; Miag-ao, 442 of 5,390; San Joaquin, 425 of 3,745; Carles, 419 of 7,336; Alimodian, 396 of 3,213; and Barotac Viejo, 370 of 4,681.
Other first-day figures were Balasan, 312 of 3,182; Pavia, 310 of 5,863; Anilao, 295 of 2,507; Guimbal, 292 of 2,371; Santa Barbara, 277 of 5,364; Igbaras, 268 of 2,373; Cabatuan, 243 of 4,342; Sara, 224 of 4,934; Concepcion, 222 of 4,220; Leon, 221 of 3,850; New Lucena, 211 of 1,811; Mina, 196 of 1,632; Oton, 196 of 7,673; Dumangas, 180 of 6,107; Leganes, 178 of 2,977; and Tigbauan, 170 of 5,088.
San Miguel vaccinated 147 of its 2,481 target children; San Rafael, 145 of 1,656; Badiangan, 148 of 1,963; Janiuay, 139 of 5,560; Tubungan, 138 of 1,770; Maasin, 127 of 3,472; Estancia, 127 of 5,197; Batad, 116 of 1,774; Zarraga, 87 of 2,168; Bingawan, 78 of 1,255; Dingle, 68 of 3,577; Dueñas, 66 of 2,891; San Enrique, 62 of 3,633; Lemery, 59 of 2,545; and Banate, 48 of 3,038.
The province-wide MR-SIA runs until August 28, giving health authorities less than three weeks to reach the rest of the targeted children and close immunity gaps that allow measles and rubella to continue spreading in communities./PN
