Over 46,000 children in Iloilo City are target to be vaccinated against measles, rubella and polio this February.

This is part of the Department of Health’s (DOH) measles, rubella, and oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization activity (MR OPV SIA) in Western Visayas.

Dr. Maria Jennifer Tuvilla Anceno, national immunization program manager of the City Health Office (CHO), said they are at least aiming to immunize 95 percent of the 46,855 target population in the city.

Children ages zero to 59 months old are the target for free MR OPV SIA immunization. Particularly, children aged nine to 59 months will be given measles and rubella vaccines while those zero to 59 months old will get the OPV.

Anceno noted that they have at least 102 teams that will be deployed across the city for the mass vaccination activities.

She added that they target 4,686 children to be immunized daily or 46 kids every one vaccinator.

Relative to this, the CHO is calling for the cooperation of everyone especially of the parents for the supplemental immunization program.

She assured the public that while they carry out their task, the minimum health protocols against coronavirus disease 2019 will be strictly imposed.

In Western Visayas, at least 770,279 children ages zero to 59 months old are the target for free MR OPV SIA immunization.

Dr. Daphynie Toerima, DOH’s 6 Child Health and National Immunization Program coordinator, emphasized that the vaccines to be used in the campaign have long been proven safe and effective.

“Our vaccines are safe. These are regulated commodities that undergo clinical trials. Our measles, rubella, and polio vaccines have been perfected since they were produced in the 1930s,” Teorima said.

The regional health office underscored that the mass immunization activity is necessary to forestall impending outbreak of measles, rubella and polio./WDJ