Vaccine for 1.5M kids in CL vs measles, rubella, polio

CLARK FREEPORT — Around 1.5 million kids in Central Luzon from 0-59 months will receive this September free vaccination against measles, rubella, and polio.

“This month long activity is part of a national campaign that seeks to interrupt transmission of measles and rubella reaching every purok and ensuring that there will be no missed child for immunization,” Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon said.

It is in line with DOH’s commitment of eliminating measles by 2015.

The activity is likewise meant to protect the population from consequences of importation of wild poliovirus and to link the mass immunization to routine immunization by identifying the immunity gaps in high-risk communities.

“At this point in time, in spite of the routine immunization that we are providing our constituents, there are significant numbers of incomplete immunized children leading to outbreaks of several vaccine-preventable diseases including pertussis, measles and rubella,” Gorgolon furthered.

DOH previously conducted mass immunization in 2011 wherein a significant reduction in prevalence of measles and rubella transmission was noted in 2012.

However, measles cases rose again in 2013 leading to the conduct of the mentioned national undertaking. (PIA 3