CEBU CITY, Cebu, April 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) here together with the local government units and partner stakeholders is rolling out a supplemental immunization program (SAP) dubbed "Chikiting Ligtas 2023" from May 2 to 31.

The Philippines is one of the top ten countries in the world that have the most unprotected children in terms of vaccine coverage.

This was disclosed recently by the Department of Health (DOH) 7 during a stakeholders meeting at the DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development on April 20 to address the increasing cases and possible outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles-rubella and polio in the country.

When the confidence in the effectiveness of vaccines plummeted to 22% in 2018 from the 82% in 2015 due to the dengvaxia vaccine, DOH sought an effective way to prevent the re-emergence of these vaccine-preventable diseases.

Family Health Section Nurse V of DOH7, Ruff Valdevieso, disclosed that from Jan. 1 to April 1, 2023, a total of 50 cases with 0 death from vaccine-preventable diseases was recorded for Region 7 with the highest reported cases in Cebu at 45.

There is no treatment for polio, measles, and rubella.

Vaccination is the only effective way to prevent an outbreak, Valdevieso added.

Parents of children ages 0-59 months are encouraged to get their measles-rubella vaccine and oral polio vaccines at their nearest health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, private clinics or outpatient department in hospitals.

Vitamin A supplements will also be given to boost the immune system which is crucial for growth and development. (MYP/PIA7)