BONTOC, Mountain Province – Bontoc has achieved 83% of the desired 95% target rate of eligible children to be vaccinated with the on-going Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV-SIA) as of May 22, 2023.
During the Monday Flag Raising Ceremony, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez announced that Bontoc recorded 85.01 % coverage in the MR vaccine shot and 88.06% for the OPV for children aged 0-59 months under the “Chikiting Ligtas” campaign.
In Barangay Alab Proper, 46 children were vaccinated for measles and 56 were provided with OPV. Alab Oriente has 26 vaccinated children for MR and 32 for OPV. Balili has 22 vaccinations for MR and 34 for OPV. Can-eo has 46 vaccinated children for MR and 49 for OPV. Dalican has 57 vaccinations for MR and 72 for OPV. Gonogon has 31 vaccinated children for MR and 34 for OPV. Guina-ang has 73 vaccinations for MR and 88 for OPV. Mainit has 72 vaccinations for MR and 85 for OPV. Maligcong has 36 vaccinations for MR and 39 for OPV. Samoki has 173 vaccinated children for MR and 222 for OPV. Talubin has 78 vaccinations for MR and 99 for OPV. Tocucan has 57 vaccinations for MR and 67 for OPV. Poblacion has 159 vaccinations for MR and 190 for OPV. Caluttit has a total of 147 vaccinations for MR and 190 for OPV.
Having the largest population among the barangays of Bontoc, Bontoc Ili has the largest target number with 273 vaccinations for MR and 314 administered for OPV. Meanwhile, Bayyo has 13 vaccinations for MR and 18 for OPV.
With this, the first wave of herd vaccinations had been completed in all barangays of Bontoc.
Relative to this, Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., called on parents and guardians to have their children receive their shots of the MR-OPV.
“The vaccine is free, effective, and has been proven safe by science and long-term studies by health experts. It protects our children against contagious and deadly diseases like measles, rubella, and polio,” the mayor added.
The MR-OPV-SIA is part of the DOH campaign in collaboration with the local governments to break the chain of transmission of poliovirus and measles by ensuring that at least 95% of infants and children from ages 0-59 months in all regions are immunized.
Meanwhile, members of the Rapid Convenience Monitoring Team (RCMT) from the Department of Health (DOH)-Regional Office came to Bontoc to develop recommendations for LGUs on how to enhance their respective herd immunization strategies following house-to-house inspections and interviews.
Development Management Officer Michael Capuyan Jr., of the DOH Provincial Office introduced the members of the RCMT as follows: Medical Officer Shelly M. Aral, midwife Marylee Piluden, health program officers Jesselyn Pelayo and Frizzel Denver Palbusa, and Psychometrician Jezer Von Luy.
By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay and Shannon Althea S. Pagaduan
