TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas aims to vaccinate nearly 446,000 children this month as it intensifies efforts to prevent measles and rubella outbreaks, diseases that remain a threat due to gaps in routine childhood immunization.
The region-wide supplemental immunization campaign, scheduled from Aug. 10 to 28, targets 445,961 children aged six to 59 months, regardless of their previous vaccination status. The initiative will also provide free Vitamin A supplementation to eligible children.
DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Exuperia Sabalberino said the campaign is part of the government’s continuing effort to raise immunization coverage and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases that can lead to serious complications, disability, or even death.
“We intend to cover all eligible children based on our actual master list. We have partnered with national government agencies and local government units since this requires a whole-of-government approach,” Sabalberino said.
Of the total target beneficiaries, Leyte province has the largest number with 152,055 children, followed by Samar with 80,304; Northern Samar, 66,396; Eastern Samar, 44,461; Southern Leyte, 36,409; Tacloban City, 25,511; Ormoc City, 23,701; and Biliran, 17,124.
DOH Eastern Visayas National Immunization Program Manager Chiradee Claridad assured the public that vaccine supplies are sufficient to support the month-long campaign.
“Our current supply is sufficient. We have 850,000 doses of measles-rubella vaccines available in the region,” she said.
Health officials urged parents and caregivers to bring eligible children to the nearest health centers or vaccination sites and seek assistance from nurses, midwives, and barangay health workers to avail themselves of the free vaccines and Vitamin A supplements.
The DOH said the measles-rubella vaccine remains the most effective protection against the highly contagious viral diseases, which can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, blindness, and death, particularly among young children. Vitamin A supplementation, meanwhile, helps strengthen children’s immune systems and reduces the severity of infections.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
