DOH extends vaccination drive vs measles, polio

MANILA, Philippines — With over 800,000 children still unvaccinated against measles, rubella and polio, the Department of Health (DOH) has extended its immunization campaign until March 7.

The DOH said it hopes to vaccinate 95 percent of the target population.

As of Monday, 83.7 percent or 4,269,423 children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella while 3,939,677 or 82.4 percent have been vaccinated against polio.

Central Luzon posted the highest vaccination coverage against measles and rubella, with 881,789 or 91.1 percent of infants and children aged 9 to 59 months and 1,026,404 or 90.6 percent aged 0 to 59 months.

At least 85.7 percent or 873, 532 children received measles and rubella vaccines in Metro Manila and 79.2 percent or 1,031,342 in Calabarzon.

At least 79.1 percent or 1,205,345 of the target population were vaccinated against polio.

Western Visayas topped the list of regions where infants and children were vaccinated against measles and rubella, with 87.7 percent or 579,319; followed by Central Visayas, with 78.5 percent or 544,047, and Eastern Visayas with 78.3 percent or 363,508.

Western Visayas also has the most number of children vaccinated against polio at 85.7 percent or 660,354, followed by Central Visayas at 78 percent or 363,508, and Eastern Visayas at 76.7 percent or 411,066.

The DOH urged parents and legal guardians to have their children aged zero to 59 months inoculated against vaccine-preventable diseases.