A WEEK before the culmination of the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA), Cagayan de Oro's accomplishment is still at 78 percent, Acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery reported Wednesday, November 18.
The MRSIA, which started on October 26, aims to vaccinate a total of 63,000 children ages nine to 59 months old in Cagayan de Oro.
According to Nery, one of the reasons why the city has yet to achieve the 95 percent target is due to the parents or guardians hesitating to have their children vaccinated as the vaccine for measles and rubella is injectable, unlike the polio vaccine which can be taken orally.
"Kini sya is injectable and ang atong mga ginikanan sometimes hesitant nga magdala sa ilang mga anak kay injectionan ug naay mga possibility gyud of side effects like sometimes naay inflammation or usahay maghilanat or magkaron og slight fever ang mga bata," Nery said.
She further said that another reason is the manpower in barangay health centers as for the past few weeks, some barangay health workers, doctors and midwives were infected by the novel coronavirus and some of the others are under quarantine.
"But then gapaningkamot gyapon ta. Naa tay augmentation sa atoang mga manpower," Nery said, adding that they are also focusing on areas that have the lowest number of MRSIA accomplishments in the following days before the program's culmination on November 25.
"Hopefully we can achieve our target nga 95 percent," she said.
Asked if there will be extension for the supplemental immunization activity if the city failed to achieve the target, Nery said it will depend on the Department of Health.