The Department of Health (DOH), together with the local government unit of Cavite, today launched Phase 2 of the Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA) at the city health office of the City of General Trias, Cavite.
Phase 2 will start on February 1-28, 2021 in selected regions of the country.
“Sa kabila ng dumating na hamon ng pandemyang COVID-19 sa ating bansa na kinailangan nating bigyang prayoridad at dahilan ng agarang pagkilos ng buong DOH upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan pangkalusugan ng ating mga mamayan, hindi natin isinantabi ang ibang mga importanteng programa upang mapanatili ang magandang estado ng kalusugan sa ating bansa, lalo na ang kalusugan ng ating kabataan,” DOH Seretary Francisco Duque III stated.
“We must ensure the health and welfare of all regardless of age, status, stigma or geographical location and this is the guiding principles of the universal health law including the measles and polio vaccination activity,” he added.
During the Phase 1 activity, the DOH accomplished a 92.9 percent measles vaccination and 89.2 percent for the oral polio vaccination.
Duque also lauded the commitment and effort of the “Bakuna Doors” teams during the Phase 1 immunization activity for their successful implementation of the program.
“I urged all our vaccinators to continue their duty and hopefully we can immunize more children during the second phase of the measles-polio vaccination activity,” he stated.
“Inaasahan din namin ang suporta ng ating mga kasanggang local government units para sa tagumpay ng ating programa.”
The Phase 2 vaccination activity will be conducted in the Visayas region, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON.
Children 9-59 months old will be given Measles – Rubella vaccine while 0-59 months old will be provided with oral Polio vaccine.
For his part, DOH-CALABARZON Regional Director Eduardo Janairo encourage parents and guardians to have their children immunized.
“Bakuna lamang ang makapagbibigay ng proteksyon laban sa measles at polio. Itos ay garantisadong ligtas, epektibo at ibibigay ito ng libre.”
Janairo also assured that health workers in CALABARZON, including the “Bakuna Doors” are all ready for the task at hand.
“Lahat ng mga batang targeted for immunization ay pupuntahan at sisiguraduhin natin na mabibigyan ng proteksiyon para sa kanilang kalusugan,” he concluded.