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67,090 NegOcc kids vaccinated in 5 days

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• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The Department of Health reported that more than 100,000 children with ages 5 years and below in Western Visayas, including 67,090 in Negros Occidental, were vaccinated against measles, rubella and polio, during the first week of ongoing Chikiting Ligtas campaign in Western Visayas.

This translates to 17.21 percent of the targeted 660,054 eligible children, according to reports of the DOH-WV Center for Health and Development.

Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Office officer-in-charge, earlier disclosed that they are targeting 222,590 children in Negros Occidental, for MR OPV SIA (Measles, Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity), which is being conducted simultaneously nationwide until May 31.

The Chikiting Ligtas immunization campaign of DOH aims to address the increasing number of measles cases in the country, and to avert an outbreak.

The 67,090 vaccinated children in Negros Occidental from May 1 to 5, represents 30.14 percent of the targeted population.

Data covering the same period also showed that 103,737 children aged zero to 59 months old were able to receive bivalent oral polio vaccines, or 13.47 percent of the target 769,681 eligible children.

DOH-WV records further showed that a total of 113,583 children aged zero to 59 months also inoculated with measles and rubella vaccines, which translated to 17.21 percent of the target 660,054 eligible children.

DOH and local government units are leaving no stone unturned to reach all eligible children in this campaign, even making vaccination posts more accessible to the communities by setting up in public plazas, chapels, day care centers, and malls, the statement said.

The inclement weather currently being experienced by people in Western Visayas, has however affected some health workers on the ground, especially those in island barangays and geographically isolated and upland areas, it pointed out.

Despite this, the DOH WV CHD is confident that the region will be able to achieve its target vaccination coverage with the strong support of LGUs, partner agencies, and the parents and guardians of eligible children, said Dr. Adriano Suba- an, DOH regional director.

Measles, rubella and polio are vaccine-preventable diseases.

Without the proper dosage and timely immunization, these diseases can lead to serious health complications such as pneumonia, brain damage, deafness, blindness, heart disorders, permanent disability, or even death.

The DOH-WV CHD continues to call on parents and guardians with children under five years old to bring their children to health centers and vaccination sites to be immunized.

Suba-an stressed that vaccines that given to children are safe, effective, free and have been regularly used during their routine immunizations. More importantly, these vaccines are readily available in most health centers and vaccination sites, he added.*

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