THE Department of Health Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) iterated its public health advisory for parents and guardians to bring under-five children (59 months and below) to health centers for Measles Rubella–Oral Polio Vaccine (MR–OPV) vaccination.
"The nationwide immunization program for the whole month of September is part of the strategy to eliminate measles as a health concern, so we call on all parents and guardians to bring their child/children, 59 months and below to the health centers for (free) immunization," DOH–CAR Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said.
Measles, she said, remains to be a health concern.
In 2013 up to this year, clustering cases were noted in various parts of the country. This prompted the Department of Health and its partners including UNICEF, JICA and WHO to embark anew on this nationwide immunization campaign.
In the Cordillera, Pangilinan reported based on their January 1 to August 30 disease surveillance report, there were 108 confirmed measles cases with Benguet having the most cases with 53, followed by Baguio City with 34.
The disease affects all ages.
For polio, Pangilinan said the Philippines is already polio-free, but the oral vaccine aims to ensure that there will be no importation of cases from neighboring countries where the disease remains a concern.
The MR immunization is for children 9 months to 59 months old, while the OPV is for 0 to 59 months, regardless whether the child has already been vaccinated or not.
The mass immunization will be until the end of September. (Carlito Dar)