FIGHTING MEASLES. A vaccination drive in Tacloban City against measles in this undated photo. The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to administer measles and oral polio vaccines to over one million children in Eastern Visayas this year. (Photo courtesy of Donna Lei Rosario)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has been gathering local government officials and health workers in Eastern Visayas region to achieve at least 95 percent of the target in the vaccination against measles and polio in May.
In the past three days, key DOH regional officials here have been meeting mayors, local health officers, village health workers, and other officials for the regional onboarding of stakeholders for the campaign against measles-rubella and polio.
“The onboarding aims to emphasize the huge role that local chief executive play in the vaccination campaign, which targets to immunize children aged 0-59 months old,” the DOH regional office said in statement on Friday.
“A whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach is imperative in the achievement of the 95 percent target vaccination coverage for 2023. Thus, the presence of our local leaders is a significant demonstration of their utmost support to the realization of the campaign,” the department said.
DOH in Eastern Visayas is eyeing to administer measles and oral polio vaccines to more than one million children in its monthlong immunization drive.
The activity will cover 471,472 children (9 months to 50 months old) for measles and 550,559 children (0 to 59 months old) for polio.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It is characterized by high-grade fever, rashes, cough, sore eyes, and runny nose and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, blindness, severe diarrhea, swelling of the brain, and even death.
Polio, on the other hand, is a potentially debilitating disease that causes fever, neck stiffness, and muscle weakness, and can eventually lead to lifelong paralysis.
The DOH said there is no specific treatment for both measles and polio, and the only reliable protection is through vaccination. (PNA)
