TO PREVENT possible outbreak of measles and polio in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) the Department of Health (DOH) is looking at vaccinating around 155,000 children for measles and 182,000 for polio in the month-long campaign starting October 26 until November 25.

Dr. Ruby Constantino, regional director of DOH-Cordillera, said that under the nationwide Measles Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA), children from 9 to 59 months old will be given measles-rubella vaccine, while 0-59 months old will be provided with oral polio vaccine.

"We are encouraging the mothers to bring their children to the nearest health facilities or temporary vaccination posts for them to receive the free vaccine shots," Constantino said.

DOH-CAR noted that for the last five years, the region has not achieved its target of at least 95 percent measles and polio vaccine in the region.

"In 2015, CAR was only able to vaccinate 70.52 percent for polio. This went down to 49.99 percent in 2016. This increased in 2017 with 68.89 percent. This again went down 2018 with 64.49 percent, and in 2019, we were able to vaccinate 77.17%. For this year as of October, we have vaccinated 58.55 percent," Constantino stated.

Baguio City will tap 16 health centers as vaccination centers.

"For Baguio City, what we are targeting for 9 to 59 months for measles and rubella is at 29,987 while for oral polio targeting the 0 to 59 months is at 35,327," Constantino added.