BACOLOD CITY, Sept. 9 (PNA) –- A total of 27,253 children and infants in this city have been vaccinated against measles and polio during the first week of mass immunization of the Department of Health (DOH).
Records of the City Health Office (CHO) show that from September 1 to 5, at least 11,804 children were given anti measles vaccines of which 603 were ages 9 to 11 months while 11,201 were 12-59 months.
The figure is 19 percent of the target children here.
During the same period, oral polio immunization were provided to 2,196 infants from 9 to 11 months and 11,253 children to 12 to 59 months or a total of 13,449 children or 18 percent of the target.
The CHO here aims to vaccinate 63,276 children for measles rubella and 74,280 for oral polio by the end of September.
The CHO said they have been surpassing by two percent the daily target of three to four percent of the eligible children.
The CHO has urged parents to have their children vaccinated against measles rubella and polio for free.
Personnel of CHO are scheduled to visit Purok Hermelinda, Barangay Mansilingan; Puroks Balik Gugma and Nagabinuligay in Barangay 26; Purok Olympia, Barangay Alijis; Purok Sto. Niño, Barangay Villamonte; and Purok Langis in Banago.
The DOH mass vaccination is a month-long campaign in coordination with the local health offices nationwide.
DOH records show about 11 million children nationwide need to be vaccinated for measles rubella while 13 million children for polio.
Regardless of previous immunization status, every child 9 months and below 5 years old will get a dose of measles rubella vaccine while 0 to below 5 years old will get two drops of oral polio vaccine.(PNA)