DOH-7 achieves over 80% of its immunization program

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Health has achieved more than 80 percent of its target for its measles-rubella-oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization (MR-OPV SIA) in Central Visayas.

DOH-7 spokesperson, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, expressed her thanks on behalf of the department to the parents, their partners in the local government units and those on the grounds in ensuring the success of this endeavor.

“We are so happy that we have achieved more than 80% of our measles - rubella- oral polio vaccination. Once again, we see the concern and love of our parents and guardians of our children - ensuring their safety from these vaccine preventable diseases,” Loreche told The Freeman.

The MR-OPV SIA is done nationwide and started on February 1, 2021 and was supposed to end on February 28 but was extended until March 7, 2021 in order for more children ages zero to five years old to be vaccinated.

For measles and rubella vaccinations, the target is 693,210 children and 590,588 were vaccinated or a coverage of 85.20 percent while for the oral polio vaccination, the target is 815,641 and 691,774 were vaccinated or a coverage of 84.81 percent.

Lapu-Lapu City is the top performing bakunator for MR-OPV SIA among the three highly-urbanized cities and four provinces in Central Visayas.

Data released by DOH-7 on March 7, 2021 shows that Lapu-Lapu City was able to vaccinate 38,805 or about 99.77 of its 38,896 target for measles and rubella vaccination while it was able to vaccinate 45,510 or 99.09 percent if its 45,926 target for its oral-polio vaccination.

Lapu-Lapu City is followed by Mandaue City which achieved 98.34 percent rating with 33,986 vaccinated with measles and rubella vaccines against the target of 34,558 while it achieved 96.31 percent coverage rating with 39,927 vaccinated for oral polio against the 40,802 target.

Cebu Province achieved an 89.62 percent for its measles and rubella vaccination with 251,003 kids being vaccinated against its 280,070 target while a total of 294,752 were vaccinated for oral-polio vaccine or 89.12 percent out of its 330,719 target.

For Bohol Province, it achieved 80.40 percent and 79.43 percent for its measles-rubella and oral-polio vaccinations, respectively.

Negros Oriental has 78.54 percent for its measles-rubella and 78.82 percent oral-polio vaccinations, respectively.

Siquijor Province has achieved a 77.56 percent and 78.38 percent for its measles-rubella and oral-polio vaccinations, respectively.

Cebu City came in last with 74.20 percent of its measles-rubella vaccination with 65,236 vaccinated against its 87,921 target and 74.56 percent for its oral-polio vaccination wherein 77,407 were vaccinated against its 103,819 target. — GMR (FREEMAN)