Mayor Greg Gasataya led the launching of the “Ligtas Tigdas” Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity during the Immunization Task Force Assembly and Ceremonial Vaccination held at the Mansilingan Activity Center on Monday, August 10.
Running from August 10 to 28, the campaign targets all eligible children aged 6 to 59 months, with a goal of achieving at least 95 percent coverage, or reaching 48,839 children across the city, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
The City Health Office (CHO), in coordination with the various Barangay Health Centers, has deployed 74 dedicated vaccination teams composed of city nurses and midwives to carry out the vital public health initiative.
To reassure parents and guardians, National Immunization Program Coordinator Paulyne Sustento emphasized the vaccines’ established safety record.
“We assure parents that these vaccines have been tested and proven safe across different generations since the 1970s. They have undergone years of continuous study to ensure that they effectively protect our children from catching these illnesses,” Sustento said.
By bringing essential immunization services directly to communities, the city government aims to ensure that free, life-saving vaccines are accessible to every eligible child, strengthen community immunity, and leave no child behind, the press release said.
Measles and rubella may share similar early symptoms, including high fever and widespread skin rashes, but they pose different and serious health risks. Measles can lead to complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and disability, while rubella can be particularly dangerous during pregnancy and may cause congenital rubella syndrome in infants, it said.
Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the city-wide immunization campaign by bringing their eligible children to their respective barangay vaccination sites.
The city government is calling on families and communities to work together in protecting children and building a measles- and rubella-free Bacolod City.
The activity was joined by City Council Committee on Health Chair Councilor Em Ang, Executive Assistant Patrick Lacson, representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and CHO, local Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), uniformed personnel, and barangay officials, reflecting a unified commitment to protecting Bacolod’s children from vaccine-preventable diseases.*
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