ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WVC CHD) is set to conduct the Measles-Rubella – bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-bOPV SIA) comes May 2023.

In a press conference, DOH 6 Regional Immunization Program Coordinator Dr. Jose Martin Atienza stressed the need to hold the MR-bOPV SIA this year following the constant decrease in the number of children being immunized in the region over the past three years.

“This 2023, it is different knowing that we will be conducting the supplemental immunization activity prior to the occurrence of an outbreak in order to avert or stop an impending outbreak,” he added.

The activity will cover a four-week coverage period to immunize 95% of the target eligible population among children aged zero to 59 months old.

areas like school grounds, parks, transportation hubs, and hard-to-reach or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

On the other hand, DOH 6 Health Promotion Unit head Dr. Fritzi Anne Suzette Jeroso-Dequito emphasized that since time immemorial vaccines have been proven to be an effective way to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases among children.

To further boost the campaign, there will be a series of kick-off events which will be started with the World Immunization Week celebration on April 26 at Kabankalan City in Negros Occ. This will be followed by the regional kick-off of the 2023 MR-bOPV SIA at Bacolod City on April 28.

The same will also jump-start among provinces of the region with Antique and Iloilo City simultaneously on April 28, Capiz and Iloilo province on May 2, and Aklan on May 3. (JBG/FRG/PIA6)