DOH-13 to vax over 500k children against measles, rubella, polio
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| File photo |
BUTUAN
CITY -- With the launching of its ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ under the Measles
Rubella-bivalent Oral Polio Vaccination Supplemental Immunization Activity
(MR-boPV SIA) on Tuesday, May 2, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga is
aiming to vaccinate more than 500,000 children region-wide against measles,
rubella, and polio.
Development
management officer Cheryl Mary Plaza said that for the campaign, which will run
for the entire month of May, a total of 276,101 children ages 9 months to five
years old are targeted to be vaccinated against measles and rubella and some
321,546 children ages 0 to five years old will receive bivalent oral polio
vaccines.
DOH
Caraga will follow a three-phase immunization schedule, targeting at least 85%
of the eligible population in the first two weeks of the campaign through
intensive and simultaneous vaccination in all barangays through the fixed
vaccination posts and temporary vaccination posts erected in strategic areas
and house-to-house vaccination. This will be complemented by an intra-campaign
monitoring and supportive supervision of vaccination teams in the field and
daily mop-ups for missed children. Deferred children and refusals will also be
covered in the two-week period following the vaccination teams’ initial visit.
In the
third week, deferred children and refusals and missed children will be visited
by vaccination teams in order to achieve the vaccination of 90% of the target
population. A rapid convenience monitoring will also be conducted to look for
missed children.
At least
95% of the target population is expected to get vaccinated by the end of the
campaign through further mop-ups and follow-up vaccination for missed children.
Plaza
said areas with a high number of eligible population shall prioritize the
vaccination of barangays with the highest number of target population to
effectively carry out the vaccination.
Phoebe
Demata-Buque, health education and promotions officer of DOH-Caraga, said they
will also implement five key strategies to raise awareness of the campaign.
These include 1) advocacy and engagement with local chief executives to
convince them of the urgency to address the measles and polio situation in the
country and take actions to prevent an outbreak; 2) strengthening capacities of
frontline workers in communication and engagement to effectively communicate
the key messages of the campaign and respond to concerns of parents and
caregivers regarding the campaign; 3) engagement of partners and influencers to
take actions to support the MR-boPV SIA using their own resources; 4) awareness
raising and engagement with parents and caregivers to increase their awareness
of the campaign, its schedule, venues, and requirements, and understanding of
the threat of these disease, and; 5) media management to report the correct
information on the measles and polio situation in the country and disseminate
correct information to the general public, including parents and caregivers of
children eligible for immunization.
Regional Director Cesar Cassion called on its partner agencies and stakeholders to also take part in advocating for the campaign, stating: “The responsibility is ours. We have to take hold of this, we have to own this up because it is for us, it is for the future of our children, and the future of our family.” (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
