ILOILO City – Nearly 41,000 young children will be targeted in an intensified citywide vaccination campaign beginning August 10 as health authorities seek to close measles and rubella immunization gaps and overcome persistent vaccine hesitancy.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation and death, particularly among unvaccinated young children.
Rubella generally causes mild illness but can result in miscarriage or serious birth defects when contracted during pregnancy.
The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) aims to vaccinate 40,973 children aged six to 59 months during the supplemental measles-rubella immunization activity (MR-SIA), which will run until August 28.
The campaign is targeting a 95-percent coverage rate — a significant increase from the 73.89 percent recorded during the previous MR-SIA in 2023, when only 27,609 children were vaccinated.
“Our objective is to ensure that every eligible child in Iloilo City is protected against these preventable and highly contagious diseases,” said Mayette Gabanto, Nurse IV and National Immunization Program coordinator of the CHO.
Instead of conducting traditional house-to-house vaccinations, the city will establish temporary fixed vaccination posts where parents can bring their children.
“House-to-house vaccination efforts are discouraged in favor of establishing temporary fixed posts where families can bring their children. Our barangay health workers have been meticulously instructed to coordinate gatherings of the target population at designated vaccination areas,” Gabanto explained.
A total of 118 trained vaccinators, including five personnel from the Department of Health (DOH), will be deployed to administer the vaccines safely and efficiently.
Health officials acknowledged that convincing hesitant parents remains one of the campaign’s biggest challenges.
“Vaccine hesitancy remains a notable challenge in our immunization efforts,” Gabanto said.
“We are continually strengthening our advocacy to educate parents and the community about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Our mission is clear: to protect our children and build trust in immunization.”
The campaign will formally open at the Talatapan Child Development Center at Iloilo City Hall on August 10.
The activity forms part of the nationwide MR-SIA aimed at closing immunization gaps, preventing outbreaks and protecting children from severe illness and death.
The CHO urged parents and guardians to bring eligible children to designated vaccination sites and help Iloilo City reach the coverage needed to strengthen community protection./PN
