DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – A total of 154 children were vaccinated during the provincial launching of the Measles Rubella and bivalent Oral Polio virus Vaccine Supplementary Immunization Activities (MR-bOPV SIA) held at the Provincial Training and Development Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan on Wednesday.
 
Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco of the Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos encouraged parents to participate in the month-long MR-bOPV SIA campaign by having their children vaccinated against measles and polio. 
 
“Ang bakuna lamang ang tanging proteksyon laban sa dalawang sakit na ito at huwag po nating ipagwalang bahala dahil ang measles po ay nakamamatay at ang polio naman ay nakakapagpabaldado ng katawan ng taong tinatamaan ng sakit na ito,” Sydiongco said.
 
Under the campaign, children from 9 to 59 months old will be given the measles-rubella vaccine, while 0-59 months old will be provided with the oral polio vaccine.
 
In Pangasinan, a total of 262,944 children aged 9-59 months old will be given measles, rubella (MR) vaccines while 307,548 children aged 0-59 months old will be receiving bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) polio and 6-59 months old children for vitamin A supplementation.
 
The provincial government of Pangasinan headed by Governor Ramon Guico III said that all cities and municipalities in the province are prepared and ready for the month-long activity. 
 
Governor Guico said, “Our city/rural health centers, day care centers, barangay health stations and identified vaccination sites will be immunizing eligible children beginning today at lahat ng kailangang mabakunahan ay bibigyan ng bakuna para sila ay maprotektahan laban sa tigdas at sa polio.”
 
“Magbabahay-bahay ang ating mga health workers kung kinakailangan upang masiguro ang 95% immunization coverage sa mga batang kinakailangang maturukan ng measles at polio vaccine,” he added.
 
Guico thanked the DOH, its partners, and all those involved in the vaccination program.
 
“Let’s target zero cases. Everybody should be vaccinated. Let’s help each other to achieve what we need to achieve,” he said.
 
Food treats such as ice cream, hotdog and popcorn were given to children who attended the launching activity. 
 
Medicines and vitamins including paracetamol, vitamin C and multivitamins were also distributed.
 
Dr. Valerie Ann Tesoro, Director III of the Office of Health Laboratories and guest during the launching, stated that the health department has recorded 225 measles cases from January 1 to March 18, 2023 which is 369% higher than the same period last year. 
 
Tesoro said, “We need to accelerate the catch-up campaign and prevent future outbreaks.”
 
“The COVID-19 has shown us that collective and concerted action works and we must exercise that same vigor for the MR-bOPV SIA campaign to make sure that all our children will be immunized and protected,” she said.
 
She added, “We urge our local government unit partners, developmental partners, civil society organizations, and the public to join us and support the DOH’s Chikiting Ligtas 2023 to protect our children from vaccine preventable diseases. Ang bakuna po laban sa tigdas at polio at safe, sigurado at libre.” (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)