DAGUPAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos posted a 54% accomplishment rate or 226,075 vaccinated out of the 416,762 target children in the region from May 1 to 15, 2023 for the “Chikiting Ligtas” campaign.
According to the Measles Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) Bulletin No. 4, Ilocos Sur has provided measles vaccine to a total of 80.12% or 37,118 children out of the 46,330 target children; Ilocos Norte has 55.71% or 22,602 out of the 40,573; Pangasinan with 50.66% or 129,992 out of the 256,615; and La Union has 48.20% or 6,878 out of the 14,269 target.
For the oral polio vaccine, Ilocos Sur accomplished 66.08% of its target or 6.096 out of the 9,225 eligible children; Pangasinan with 53.50% or 66,403 out of 124,110; Ilocos Norte has 53.12% or 7,005 out of 13,186; La Union has 53.04% or 14,496 out of 27,328; and Dagupan City with 47.04% or 7,941 out of 16,754 target.
Four municipalities in Ilocos Sur, namely Magsingal (113.01%), Sto. Domingo (110,75%), San Ildefonso (96.52%) and Santa (95.23%), have already exceeded the 95% target set by the DOH to provide protection from vaccine-preventable diseases including measles, rubella, and polio to children 0-59 months old.
DOH Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco extended appreciation to all local government units (LGUs) for their continuing effort to seek out every eligible child in the communities.
She said, “We still have two more weeks to meet or even exceed our target and let us do our best to immunize all 0-59 months old.”
“Siguraduhin po natin na lahat ay mabibigyan ng proteksyon at walang maiiwanan upang ang ating mga bata ay lumaking ligtas at malusog sa anumang sakit,” Sydiongo added.
Sydiongco called on all parents and guardians of children 0-59 months old to bring them to vaccination centers for vaccination.
“Patuloy din po ang house-to-house na bakuna para sa mga hindi makakapunta sa mga health center natin. Tangkilikin po natin ang mga bakunang binibigay ng ating gobyerno dahil ito po ay libre, ligtas at siguradong epektibong panlaban sa sakit,” she assured.
Earlier, the DOH Ilocos offered mobilization funds and financial incentives to LGUs in the region to meet their vaccination targets.
The mobilization fund will assist LGUs in the financial processes and increase allocations for the ongoing MR-bOPV SIA campaign.
“This fund will be allocated according to the number of eligible children, vaccinated children, vaccination coverage and timely reporting,” Sydiongco said.
She added that selected health personnel, technical staff, administrative support and immunization coordinators at the regional and provincial level who will act as coordinators, supervisors and monitors during the campaign will also be given incentives subject to the availability of funds. BY: APRIL M. MONTES-BRAVO
