THE provincial government and the Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region recently launched the Measles Rubella and bivalent Oral Polio virus Vaccine Supplementary Immunization Activities (MR-bOPV SIA) 2023 in Lingayen town.

DOH is targeting 262,944 children aged 9-59 months old that will be administered with measles, rubella (MR) vaccines while 307,548 children aged 0-59 months old will receive bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) polio and 6-59 months old children for Vitamin A supplementation.

Governor Ramon Guico III said all cities and municipalities in Pangasinan should be prep and ready for the month-long activity.

“Our city/rural health centers, day care centers, barangay health stations and identified vaccination sites will be immunizing eligible children beginning today at lahat ng kailangang mabakunahan ay bibigyan ng bakuna para sila ay maprotektahan laban sa tigdas at sa polio, he said”

He urged health workers in the province to conduct vaccination activities in the province’s far-flung areas to ensure that every child aged 0 to 59 months would be vaccinated against measles, Rubella, and polio.

“We should also intensify our information dissemination campaign to educate parents because it is them who will decide whether their children should be vaccinated or not,” the governor said.

A the launching event, Governor Guico administered an oral poliovirus vaccine to his four-year-old daughter Eliza Rae, assisted by his wife, First Lady Ms. Maan Guico.

Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, said that this year’s target of the measles and Rubella vaccination campaign are some 262,944 children aged 9 to 59 months old, while some 307,548 children aged 0 to 59 months are being targeted to be given oral poliovirus vaccine.

At least 95 percent of the eligible children must be vaccinated at the end of the month-long campaign, according to De Guzman.

During the launching activity at the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol Training Center 1, 154 children were vaccinated during the launching activity.

Dr. Valerie Ann Tesoro, Director III of the Office of Health Laboratories, said the health department already recorded 225 measles cases from January 1 to March 18, 2023 which is 369% higher than the same period last year. (DOH1/PIO)

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