Over 5 M kids still to be immunized – DOH

MANILA, Philippines - Over five million children have yet to be vaccinated for polio and another four million for measles and rubella with only four days left in the Department of Health (DOH)’s month-long immunization campaign.

DOH Undersecretary Janette Garin said the overall immunization rate of the “Ligtas sa Tigdas” campaign was only 63 percent for measles and rubella and 61 percent for polio.

“From Sept. 1 to 20, we vaccinated 7,235,341 of our 11.48 million target for measles and rubella and 8,209,506 of the 13.48 million target for oral polio vaccine,” she said.

Garin said Metro Manila and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded the lowest vaccination rate among all the regions.

In Metro Manila, she said, over 700,000 children below five years old have yet to be vaccinated for polio and close to 600,000 for measles and rubella.

The city of Manila has the lowest rate in Metro Manila with only 19 percent vaccinated for measles, rubella and polio.

Garin said the other cities with low measles and rubella immunization rates are Dasmariñas, Toledo, Makati, Bais, Bacoor, Tanjat, Ozamis, Cavite, Pasay, Maasin, Calbayog, Baguio, Calapan,Lipa, Alaminos, Vigan, Cabanatuan and Tacloban.

Except for Calbayog and Tacloban, all the cities also posted low oral polio immunization rates along with Marikina and Puerto Princesa.

Garin said Tropical Storm Mario and the other calamities that hit the country as well as disinformation spread by some sectors hampered the immunization campaign.

“Those sowing misinformation that the vaccines can cause autism and infertility should stop. It is a big lie. We cannot allow the lies to taint our campaign and cost the lives of our young children,” she said.

“We don’t need another outbreak. Each week that we delay the vaccination will cost the lives of many children and their future,” she added.

She expressed confidence that the campaign would still be able to reach 95 percent of the targeted population before the end of the month.