DAVAO CITY- The Davao City Health Office will be holding the launch of Chikiting Ligtas 2023 on May 2 at Barangay Calinan.

The Chikiting Ligtas is a Supplemental Immunization Activity which will be held from May 1 to 31 and aims to immunize children 9 to 59 months old with Measles Rubella Vaccines and children 0 to 59 months with Oral Polio Vaccines.

"Gina-awhag namo ang mga ginikanan ang atong mga parents, guardians to bring their children sa atoang mga health centers and barangay locations para mabakunahan sila (We are encouraging the parents, guardians to bring their children to the health centers and barangay locations to have them vaccinated),” says Dr. Julinda K.T. Acosta, chief Technical Services Division of the CHO said.

The CHO is targeting 161,799 children for measles rubella vaccine and for polio a target of 181,995 children. However, the CHO are still waiting for the shipment of polio vaccines to arrive.

“Due to logistical concerns (of polio vaccines) atong iprioritize na mga bata tung (we will prioritize children) due for their routine oral polio vaccination and those na nag default,” Acosta said.

She said there are enough vaccines for measles rubella. And to meet their vaccination targets the CHO have created strategies to reach out to more children in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the city, such as door-to-door vaccinations and fixed post vaccination which will take place at the barangay halls, gymnasiums, rural hospitals, and malls. (PIA/RG Alama)