(UPDATE) Gov't launches mass immunization campaign against measles, polio

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government today launched the mass immunization campaign against measles and polio, targeting 95 percent of all children who are at risk of contracting these diseases.

The country's president Benigno S. Aquino III urged the public, particularly the parents, to make sure that their children were vaccinated.

He said about 11 million to 13 million people in the country are at risk from measles, polio and rubella.

The nationwide vaccination campaign, which targets children of 9 to 59 months, is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization.

It aims to eliminate the threat of measles and rubella, identify high-risk communities for routine immunization through the 'Reaching Every Sub-village' strategy, and maintain the county 's polio-free status.

The campaign will run until Sept. 30. All health centers throughout the country will serve as vaccination posts and offer free vaccines to the children, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

A door-to-door checking and vaccination will follow to verify if there were missed children. Finger-marking through indelible ink of the child will be used to confirm if a child has been vaccinated.

Each vaccine against measles and rubella costs P31 ($0.71) while each oral polio vaccine costs 8 pesos. Treating a child with measles could cost from 15,000 pesos to 30,000 pesos in the Philippines, according to DOH officials.