Belmonte urges parents: Have kids vaccinated vs preventable diseases

MANILA, Philippines — Parents should take advantage of the government’s month-long vaccination program to protect their children from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella and polio, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

“Vaccination is the most effective and cost-efficient way to protect our children. That is why our health workers are visiting every alley and every street of our city to ensure that all children are inoculated and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Belmonte said in a statement in Filipino.

The city health department kicked off the city-wide implementation of the Chikiting Ligtas vaccination program of the Department of Health in Barangay Bahay Toro last May 2.

To ramp up the immunization drive, health workers have also set up temporary vaccination posts in markets and covered courts.

The city government said health workers are conducting house-to-house inoculation of children in the most remote corners of Quezon City’s communities.

The city government aims to vaccinate 230,347 children aged five and below against measles and administer the oral polio vaccine to 270,977 kids 0 to 59 months by the end of May.

“Parents are also encouraged to bring their children to the nearest health center to get free immunization shots,” the city government said.

Meanwhile, Belmonte clarified that even after the end of the month-long Chikiting Ligtas vaccination program, the city government will continue to administer vaccines to children.