DOH launches catch-up immunization drive in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — To protect over 100,000 young children against measles and other infectious diseases, the Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) officially launched the “Bakuna BayaniJuan” big catch-up immunization campaign in Metro Manila at the Caloocan City Sports Complex yesterday.

The DOH-MMCHD expects to immunize up to 107,995 children against vaccine-preventable diseases until the end of the campaign on Dec. 16.

With the campaign, the DOH-MMCHD is looking at increasing the fully immunized child (FIC) coverage to 95 percent and reduce the number of zero-dose children in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The Bakuna BayaniJuan campaign primarily targets children aged 0-23 months in the NCR who have missed doses of vital vaccines such as BCG, hepatitis B, bivalent oral polio vaccine, pentavalent, pneumococcal conjugate, inactivated poliovirus vaccine and measles, mumps and rubella.

Pregnant women will also be vaccinated for tetanus-diphtheria and adults 60 years and older will receive necessary immunizations.

As of September, the NCR had recorded only 51.99-percent full immunization coverage and still lacks 24 percent to meet the 95 percent FIC coverage for herd immunity.

The DOH attributed the low FIC coverage to the prevalence of false information concerning vaccines on social media.

For the “Bakuna BayaniJuan” immunization campaign, the DOH will conduct house-to-house vaccination for infants aged 0-12 months with missed doses of vital vaccines, according to NCR national immunization program coordinator Arnold Louie Alina.

The DOH will also set up immunization centers at malls, churches and terminals.