ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) Region6 has called on local government units (LGUs) to conduct their own community-based immunization campaigns to support the agency’s goal to continuously increase the vaccination rate in the region and protect vulnerable groups from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The statement was echoed by Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, Immunization Program Medical Coordinator of DOH-6, during the recent conduct of the National Immunization Activity in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
Atienza stressed that all the vaccines under the agency’s immunization programs are available at local health centers, which LGUs can fully utilize through their own vaccination initiatives.
“The LGUs have the capacity to conduct activity such as this and we are really recommending them to conduct this activity because through this we will also be able to disseminate information about the importance of vaccination and to be able to correct misconceptions about vaccines,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Immunization Activity, gathered infants, students, pregnant women, and elderly, wherein they availed vaccines for influenza, pneumonia, tetanus-diphtheria, and routine immunization.
The agency, in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Santa Barbara LGU, and other stakeholders, chose the town for the implementation of the National Immunization Program as it is one of the identified areas in Iloilo that still need improvement on its vaccination coverage.
Some of the residents who availed the program, on the other hand, expressed gratitude for the government, citing the importance of vaccination to protect their health.
“I really want to avail myself of the vaccine so that I can be protected, especially that I am already old, and I thank the DOH for bringing this kind of health program,” 63-year-old Claudio Serisola said in Hiligaynon.
“I availed the vaccine so that I will be protected against viruses and diseases. I also encouraged my fellow students and other people to avail the vaccines for their protection,” student Angelyn Margarrette Somcio also said.
The event was also attended by DOH undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Palemo-Maestral, DOH-6 director Dr. Adriano P. Suba-an, DILG-6 director Juan Joviam F. Ingeniero, Santa Barbara’s Mayor Dr. Dennis S. Superficial, and other representatives from different agencies and stakeholders who all expressed support for the immunization program. (PIA)