By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) Monday said Region 6 notched the second highest coverage in Phase 2 of its month-long Measles-Rubella Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA).
Data from the DOH-WV CHD indicated that as of Valentine’s Day, 399,017 children in the region aged 9 to 59 months were vaccinated for Measles and Rubella.
The number is 60.37% of its regional target of 660,406 children.
Also, 457,734 children aged 0 to 59 months received Oral Polio Vaccine, which is 59.14% of its 770,279 target in the region.
Western Visayas is bested only by Central Luzon for the top spot and is ahead of other regions which are also in Phase 2 of the MR OPV SIA, such as CALABARZON, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, and the National Capital Region.
Phase 1 of the MR OPV SIA campaign was conducted in February 2020 in Mindanao, Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Regions.
In terms of the regional breakdown for Measles-Rubella vaccination, Iloilo province came on top with 74.96%, followed by Guimaras with 72%, Capiz with 58.75%, Negros Occidental with 57.74%, Antique with 54.5%, Bacolod City with 51.6%, Aklan with 49.25%, and Iloilo City with 47.66%.
For OPV, Guimaras was first with 74.35%, followed by Iloilo province with 72.83%, Capiz with 57.43%, Negros Occidental with 56.26%, Antique with 53.87%, Bacolod City with 49.76%, Aklan with 49.30%, and Iloilo City with 47.52%.
The top 10 municipalities in the region for both MR and OPV are all from Iloilo province, namely – Lemery, Dueñas, Dingle, Passi City, San Dionisio, Lambunao, San Enrique, Cabatuan, Barotac Viejo, and Guimbal.
In a virtual press conference on Monday, DOH-WV CHD Child Health and National Immunization Program Coordinator Dr. Daphne Teorima, said that the DOH-WV CHD pushed through with the MR OPV SIA despite the intermittent weather and national and local holidays this month.
“It had been rainy in other areas. We of course advised [vaccinators] that if it was dangerous, they should not go ahead in an area where they would be endangered. They had to cross rivers and floods just to vaccinate children. They really had to walk muddy areas even in the heat. Our health workers’ dedication in this activity is very laudable. Our activity also continues even in the weekends and holidays,” Teorima said.
As to the areas with lower accomplishment rates in MR OP vaccinations, she said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and the weather affected the vaccination drive.
She added that they have advised the local government units (LGUs) of affected areas to come up with plans for them to catch up with the rest of the region.
“One of the reasons is COVID, like in Aklan, at the start of the campaign, one-third of the LGUs were affected, including other Rural Health Unit staff. The same also happened in Iloilo City. But quarantine in these areas have started to be lifted, and we recommended catch-up plans, either to increase their vaccination teams, or strategize their schedules in the weekdays and weekends, and other possible strategies. As much as possible, they have to catch-up so we can finish as one region,” Teorima said.
