• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
There are now nine local government units in Negros Occidental that have reached the Department of Health target of 95 percent in the supplemental immunization activity dubbed “Chikiting Ligtas 2023 campaign,” aimed at achieving herd immunity against measles, rubella and polio.
Murcia remains the top performing LGU with a 107.97 percent accomplishment, followed by Himamaylan City – 105.76 percent, Silay City – 102.78 percent, Talisay City – 99.56 percent, Kabankalan City – 98.03 percent, La Castellana – 96.97 percent, Moises Padilla – 95.88 percent, Sagay City – 95.76 percent, and Candoni – 95.57 percent, Provincial Health Office records showed.
Overall, Negros Occidental logged an 89.13 percent accomplishment rate, having immunized 198,392 of the 222,590 targeted children.
The month-long immunization activity was supposed to end May 31, but extended to June 15 after DOH Western Visayas noted that Region 6 had yet to reach the desired 95 percent accomplishment rate in the supplemental immunization activity, needed to accomplish herd immunity against measles, rubella and polio, diseases that commonly victimizes children 5-years-old and below.*
