Talisay goal: All kids immunized

CEBU, Philippines - To immunize all children — this is the directive of City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar as Talisay City embarks on a mass immunization against measles and polio.

The program already kicked off last week, said Aznar, chairman of the committee on health and sanitation.

Immunization must not miss any child as its objective is to totally eliminate measles, reduce cases of rubella and keep the Philippines polio-free, he said.

"The mass vaccination runs throughout September. So far, from our report from the city health and barangay workers, daghan man ang nagpa-immunize nga mga bata. Wala man sab ta'y report nga cases of these diseases (As per report, a lot have turned themselves in to be immunized. We have received no report about any case for these diseases)," Aznar said, adding that health workers are reaching every sitios in 22 barangays.

The Department of Health conducts this September 2014 a nationwide measles and rubella mass immunization billed as "Ligtas Tigdas, Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," according to Dr. Elle in a weekly radio forum.

Target for the measles and rubella immunization are kids 5 months to 59 months old, authorities said, noting that most of those who were infected were within these age bracket.

Aznar also added that parents need to bring with them the baby's book of immunization record so as to allow health workers to know which immunization the child needs.

If the child has no immunization record yet, parents are advised to seek immediate immunization and get the book from rural health workers.

This time, an immunized child would be given a finger mark: indelible ink on the finger, as a sign that he has completed the mass immunization.

Since 2000, the Philippines has enjoyed a polio-free status when the Western Pacific Region was certified polio-free.

The DOH is also putting up Oral Polio Vaccine Mass Immunization to provide a second opportunity to catch missed children and protect the country from a potential poliovirus importation.  (FREEMAN)