ILOILO City – In response to a confirmed measles case in Mandurriao district, the City Health Office (CHO) is ramping up its Measles-Rubella Catch-Up Immunization campaign to curb the spread of the disease and protect children from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
The campaign is part of a broader effort to strengthen immunization coverage and prevent potential outbreaks, particularly in highly urbanized areas and provinces across Western Visayas.
According to Mayette Gabanto of the CHO, the program aims to ensure high-quality measles and rubella vaccination activities across all barangays, interrupt and prevent measles and rubella transmission by achieving a vaccination coverage of at least 95% among infants and children aged 9 to 59 months, sustain high population immunity through Periodic Intensification of Routine Immunization (PIRI), conducted every last month of each quarter, to minimize the risk of outbreaks.
The confirmed measles case in Mandurriao prompted the CHO to prioritize the district for immediate vaccination efforts. Health officials emphasized the urgency of containing the virus before it spreads further, given the highly contagious nature of measles.
The vaccination drive is being implemented through two distinct approaches based on the presence of confirmed cases:
Non-Selective Areas (High-Risk Zones)
– These include areas where there is already a confirmed measles case, such as Mandurriao.
– In these locations, all children aged 9 to 59 months will receive an additional dose of the Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV), regardless of their immunization history.
– Based on CHO data, 8,044 children have been identified for immunization under this category.
Selective Areas (Preventive Immunization Zones)
– These are areas with no confirmed or suspected measles cases.
– Only children who have not completed the two required doses of the measles-containing vaccine will be vaccinated.
– The goal is to ensure that every child in the 9 to 59 months age group has received both doses to achieve full protection.
Gabanto reassured the public that Iloilo City has sufficient vaccine stocks. However, if supply runs low, additional doses can be requested from the regional health office.
Dr. Jennifer Tuvilla-Anceno, medical consultant for the National Immunization Program (NIP), explained the critical role of the catch-up immunization drive in filling vaccination gaps.
“Measles is included in our routine immunization program. We administer the first dose at 9 months and the second dose at 12 months. However, some children miss their scheduled vaccinations, which is why we are conducting this catch-up program,” she said.
She further revealed that the confirmed case in Iloilo City involved a 19-year-old female who had received her immunization in Passi City but now works in Iloilo City.
“Even though she is not originally from Iloilo City, she is now working and interacting with people here, including young children. This increases the risk of exposure, making our catch-up immunization efforts even more critical,” Anceno explained.
Dr. Anceno stressed that even fully vaccinated children in non-selective areas would receive a supplementary dose to reinforce their immunity.
“For those who are already fully vaccinated, we will still administer an additional dose to strengthen their protection. Meanwhile, for children who have not completed their two-dose schedule, we will ensure they receive their missing vaccines,” she said.
She added that in areas with confirmed measles cases, like Mandurriao, every eligible child must be vaccinated — regardless of their immunization history.
“This is what we call non-selective immunization. Every child within the target age group must receive the vaccine to prevent further transmission,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, selective immunization will be conducted in areas without cases, where only children lacking one or both doses will be vaccinated.
Despite the challenges, Iloilo City has consistently performed well in immunization efforts.
“We have seen an increase in immunization coverage over the past year. In the third quarter of 2023, Iloilo City had the highest number of fully immunized children in Western Visayas. By the end of the year, we ranked second in the region,” Anceno shared.
However, she acknowledged that there are still gaps, which is why the city is working hard to close immunization loopholes and prevent future outbreaks.
“Even with high coverage, there are always some children who fall through the cracks. That’s why we are seeing cases of measles, especially among older individuals whose immunity has waned over time. This is why booster doses and supplementary immunization are essential,” she explained.
Dr. Anceno assured the public that measles vaccines are safe, effective, and free of charge.
“We vaccinate every child who comes to us. However, we advise parents to have their children immunized in their place of residence so that their medical records are complete and properly documented,” she said.
For suspected measles cases, samples are sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmation, which takes around two weeks. During this period, patients are advised to self-isolate to prevent the potential spread of the disease./PN
