The Department of Health (DOH) launched the Chikiting Ligtas 2023, a nationwide free supplemental immunization campaign to vaccinate children against measles, rubella, and polio, at the Bacolod City Government Center Friday morning, April 28.
Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH 6 regional director, stressed the need to step up the free vaccination drive in Bacolod City, where one German measles case has been confirmed, to prevent an outbreak.
Measles can spread very fast, he warned.
There were also two suspected rubella cases in Bacolod, the City Health Office (CHO) reported.
The cases were reported in barangays Bata, Taculing and Vista Alegre, the CHO said.
Suba-an said in Western Visayas the fully immunized children below one year old in 2022 was 59.52 percent. The target is 95 percent to hit herd immunity, he added.
He noted that Bacolod’s immunization rate is also low.
Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, DOH 6 spokesman, said together with the CHO they will be conducting a house to house vaccination campaign.
The DOH will be providing Bacolod City with two additional doctors, 12 nurses, two midwives and one pharmacist to assist in its supplemental immunization drive.
Children 0 to 59 months old will be covered by the oral polio vaccine drive, while those 9 to 59 months old will be given measles rubella vaccines, Atienza said.
Meanwhile, the target is to vaccinate 222,590 children in Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Office reported.*