PB: Support mass vaccination

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board has requested the local government units in the province of Cebu to support the Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Mass Immunization activity of the Department of Health in the whole month of September.

This, as the DOH warned the public against measles that claimed lives of many children in the country. DOH also urged parents to have their children, ages five years old and below, to avail of the free vaccination from September 1 to 30 in the nearest health centers for them to be protected against these infections.

The resolution passed by the PB, which was sponsored by Board Member Jude Thaddeus Durano-Sybico, recognizes the DOH program.

Children ages nine months to five years old will be given Measles-Rubella vaccines while Oral Polio vaccines can be administered to those from ages zero to five years old.

“All three vaccinations are safe, effective and FREE! Receiving repeated doses of the vaccines do not pose any danger to your child,” the DOH posted on its Facebook account.

The program aims to prevent transmissions of measles and rubella in the country and to protect the children from the consequences of importation of wild poliovirus.

The mass immunization will be conducted by municipal health workers, barangay health workers and volunteers in every community like purok, block, sitio, and zone.  Each place will have at least one fixed site immunization post open for the whole day starting at 8 a.m.

The provincial government of Cebu also posted on its official website that DOH has a strong history of conducting measles campaigns and maintaining high routine coverage with measles vaccine. The last measles mass immunization was in 2011 and the country had significant reduction in measles and rubella transmission in 2012.

In year 2013, measles began to spread around the country which led to some significant outbreaks. This prompted to decide for the conduct of a mass immunization activity to eliminate and control these childhood diseases.

From January to July this year, there have been 44, 666 cases of measles and 91 mortalities reported by DOH.  (FREEMAN)