6.9 million kids get measles, rubella, polio jabs

MANILA, Philippines — More than 6.9 million children have been vaccinated under the “Chikiting Ligtas” campaign of the Department of Health (DOH).

“Based on our quick count as of May 15, more than 5.3 million children were immunized against measles and rubella,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press conference yesterday.

She said these children represent 55.47 percent of those targeted for immunization against measles and rubella.

Vergeire said more than 1.6 million children or 52.12 percent of the total eligible population received polio drops.

She said more than 2.2 million children received Vitamin A supplement.

“We are encouraging parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and legal guardians to have your children vaccinated against measles, rubella and polio for their protection and to prevent outbreaks of such illnesses,” Vergeire said.

The Chikiting Ligtas campaign aims to immunize 9.5 million children against measles and rubella and give bivalent oral polio vaccine to 11.5 million children.

The nationwide supplemental immunization drive will run until May 31.

Vergeire said measles-rubella and polio are highly contagious diseases that can be prevented through immunization.

The United Nations Children’s Fund had earlier said around one million children in the Philippines are unvaccinated against such diseases.

Vaccine hesitancy

Meanwhile, vaccination fatigue from COVID has led to a low turnout in the immunization drive against measles, rubella and polio in Zamboanga peninsula, DOH regional regional Dr. Joshua Brillantes said.

“The country, including our region, was not able to meet a 60-percent vaccination rate. Our target is supposed to be 90 percent to ensure that our children will be protected,” Brillantes told a briefing at the Zamboanga city hall.

He said DOH personnel would conduct house-to-house vaccination in the next two weeks to meet the target.

However, Brillantes expressed concern on the safety of the health workers due to rising temperatures.

The heat index in Dipolog City was recorded at 47 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees in Zamboanga City over the weekend. – Roel Pareño