MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday officially launched the National “Ligtas Tigdas” Supplemental Immunization Activity (SIA) in the National Capital Region (NCR) in a bid to address the high incidence of measles especially among unvaccinated children.
The launching was held at the Parañaque City hall grounds wherein children ages six to 59 months old were inoculated with the anti-measles vaccine.
A total of 16 barangays in the city will be the target of the national government’s measles immunization campaign.
In a press briefing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the compelling reason behind the intensified immunization drive is to address the increasing number of cases of measles.
He said the Philippines is experiencing an upward trend of measles cases based on the latest report of the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau.
Based on the department’s data, from January 1, 2018 to 14 April 2018, a total of 5,450 measles cases were recorded nationwide, with 15 deaths.
Of the 15 reported deaths, 13 were unvaccinated, one was vaccinated but has unknown number of doses while the other case had an unknown status of vaccination.
The reported measles outbreaks started in the last quarter of 2017 in some areas in Mindanao.
Duque said that such outbreaks can happen if there is low coverage rate of measles immunization or below 60 percent coverage in areas where the outbreaks were usually recorded.
One of the reasons for the low coverage was the issue of trust after the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy surfaced, he added.
Duque said that the vaccines provided by DOH in its immunization programs in the past had been life-saving tools for infants and children.
He said that despite the ongoing outbreak response immunizations in affected areas in Metro Manila and Mindanao, measles transmission has continued.
“As we launch the ‘Ligtas Tigdas’ campaign here in the Metro Manila, we hope to reach all parents, caregivers and guardians, emphasizing the life-saving benefits of measles vaccination,” he said.
Vaccinations will be held from April 25 to May 24, 2018 for NCR while for Mindanao areas it will be from May 9 to June 8, 2018. (PNA)
