MANILA — With the decision to extend supplemental measles immunization in the National Capital Region (NCR), an official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said they recognize the need to use the door-to-door approach.
Dr. Maria Wilda Silva, DOH national immunization program manager, said in Metro Manila, they observed that only a few are going to health centers to avail of the department’s free measles vaccination.
Since Metro Manila residents are already used to the outreach approach, Silva said approaches of “going back” or visiting them door-to-door to achieve the target for measles vaccination should be used.
She said strategies should also be tailored-fit to those residing in areas of gated subdivisions; Muslim areas and those where there is fast migration.
She noted that compared with other areas where residents are permanently residing, it is difficult to use the door-to-door approach in some areas in NCR since the population varies in the morning, evening, and even daily or weekend.
“So the vaccinators should really keep on going back to them and door-to-door,” Silva said.
As of June 15, from the NCR target of 1,408,845, the accomplishment rate was only 24.24 percent.
Compared to Mindanao, from the target of 2,796,673, the accomplishment rate was 68.98 percent.
Supplemental immunization in NCR started on April 25 while in Mindanao, it started last May 9.
The supplemental immunization was conducted to prevent the recurrence of measles outbreak in some areas in the country. (Leilani Junio/PNA)
