By Robert A. Maico/PNA
BIŇAN CITY, Laguna — The Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon task force on Tuesday conducted a mass vaccination against the infectious measles disease to some 20 children aged three to 10 years old here.
The surprised faces of diners at the Jollibee fast food chain in Bayan, Barangay Sto. Niño turned to joy at the sight of the DOH Calabarzon medical team led by Regional Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo doing the rounds of vaccination.
Janairo said the support of the city government of Biñan in Laguna to the DOH has made it possible to deploy vaccination centers in fast food chains in strategic areas of the city to mark the start of the mass immunization activity in the province.
“This is an initiative of the city government of Biñan and we are pleased that they were the first to implement this activity in support of our national government’s call for a massive immunization of children ages five months to six years old to further prevent the increasing number of measles and to bring down the cases not only in Calabarzon but the whole country as well,” he said.
Janairo disclosed that the City of Biñan has the highest number of measles cases in the province, with 94 cases and three recorded deaths from January 1 to February 9 this year.
“We will provide assistance to all LGUs of the province in support of the ongoing mass immunization campaign against measles to ensure that all the children at risk will be vaccinated and given proper protection,” he added.
Janairo stressed that two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles, while one dose is only about 93 percent effective.
“That is why, it is very important to have our children vaccinated twice starting with the first dose at nine to 15 months of age, and the second dose at four through six years of age to ensure their protection,” he said.
Janairo assured that “measles vaccine is free and parents need not worry because it is very safe, it is effective at it is the best defense against measles”.
He said the regional health office will provide whatever is needed for the task force activities and ensure “we have enough supply of vaccines at the local level, including health human resource who will administer it”.
Janairo said the fast food chain is among those targeted as measles vaccination posts, including churches, schools, malls and transport terminals, through coordination with the private and public health partners.
