LAOAG: The Ilocos Region wants to achieve 95 percent immunization coverage of children, hence it is intensifying catch-up vaccination. Department of Health Director Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco said Tuesday that they are actively reaching out to bring immunization services for free from Mondays to Fridays, from just Wednesdays previously, in community stations. Among the vaccine-preventable diseases are tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliovirus, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and Human Papilloma Virus. Of the 104,281 children aged 0 to 12 months targeted to be immunized in the region this year, the regional DOH has so far completed about 29 percent or 30,128 of the goal. "Compared to other regions, we are in the top five. As of now, we have intensified vaccinations. We are catching up with those who have missed immunization even in the previous year,' Sydiongco said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas briefing held in San Fernando, La Union and live streamed via Zoom. Sydiongco said local government units will hire more nurses to beef up the immunization drive. In Ilocos Norte, health officer Dr. Rickson Balalio reported that children in all villages will be included in purok (sub-community) vaccination. 'We are committed to preventing the spread of diseases within our province and vaccination is the most effective preventive measure,' he told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview. Source: Philippines News Agency