NAGA CITY (PIA)—“It is much harder to control an outbreak rather than preventing the disease from spreading once it has affected a large population,” Department of Health (DOH) Bicol Center for Health Development Regional and National Immunization Program Coordinator Dr. Desiree Bricenio said during the Stakeholders’ symposium on MR OPV SIA 2023 held March 24, Friday at the Regent Hotel, here.

In response, DOH CHD Bicol declared that they are getting ready for a comprehensive regional campaign in May 2023 for their MR OPV SIA, or Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity. 

“This region-wide activity aims to provide additional protection to eligible children in the Bicol Region and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as Measles, Rubella, and Polio,” DOH Bicol Regional Director Dr. Ernie V. Vera said in his letter to the stakeholders.

As per the department’s record, Dr. Bricenio explained that there is a possibility of an outbreak should measles and polio continue to increase in the upcoming months.

“In 2019, a large percentage of children could not receive their MR OPV vaccines and was made worst in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, 3 out of 4 children missed their vaccines and just last year, 2022, we recorded a 160% increase in measles and rubella compared to the previous year,” Dr. Bricenio added.

Castilla, Sorsogon, and Virac, Catanduanes both reported one (1) measles case each in 2022. Both children made a full recovery. In an alleged occurrence in Masbate, the child passed away.

In the same year, DOH also recorded confirmed rubella cases in Daet, Camarines Norte; Calabanga in Camarines Sur; Balud in Masbate and Sorsogon, Sorsogon with one case each.

DOH Stakeholders for the MR OPV SIA vaccination campaign  

Polio is a serious, crippling, and potentially fatal condition caused by the poliovirus. It can infect a person's spinal cord and cause paralysis and is contagious from person to person.

Measles, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) “is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body.

“The measles virus can be spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.”

Dr. Bricenio stressed that measles is one of the most infectious diseases worldwide and can gravely affect pregnant women and their unborn children.

DOH, under its “Chikiting Ligtas” program, is enjoining all parents of children aged 9 to 59 months to avail of the Measles-Rubella vaccine (MR) and the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for infants aged 0 to 59 months.

The agency is also appealing to all local government units (LGUs) to help augment the funding and manpower required to run the immunization program successfully.

“We hope to work with you in protecting Bicolanos from vaccine-prevented diseases through immunization,” Dr. Vera said.  (PIA5/Camarines Sur)