Bacolod city: The Department of Health - Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has administered measles-rubella vaccines to 93,416 children aged 6 to 59 months since the supplemental immunization campaign began on Aug. 10, an official said Tuesday. Dr. Deab Eltanal, acting chief of the DOH-NIR Local Health Division, expressed hopes of achieving the target by the conclusion of the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA) next week.
According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Eltanal emphasized the need for parental cooperation to meet the target of 344,170 children who are yet to receive the vaccine. Weekly monitoring and reporting suggest that the actual number of vaccinated children may be higher than current data indicate.
DOH-NIR data reveal that between Aug. 11 to 14, Negros Oriental vaccinated 15,162 children, achieving 11.1 percent of its target of 136,717. In Negros Occidental, 67,987 children received the vaccine, covering 27.8 percent of the 244,757 target. Siquijor reported 1,019 vaccinations, reaching 14 percent of its target of 7,273 children, while Bacolod City vaccinated 9,248 children, or 18.9 percent of its 48,839 target recipients.
Dr. Eltanal reiterated the safety of the measles-rubella supplemental vaccine and addressed misinformation about its alleged negative effects. To boost vaccination rates, DOH-NIR plans to deploy additional teams during the last 10 days of the campaign.
The 'Ligtas Tigdas: 2026' MRSIA initiative, launched on Aug. 10, is set to conclude on Aug. 28.
