LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) - The Department of Health-Ilocos Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD I) launched the Chikiting Ligtas 2023, a nationwide supplemental immunization drive against measles, rubella, and polio on May 2.
 
This monthlong initiative aims to protect children from outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and address the increase in the number of measles cases nationwide.
 
The Chikiting Ligtas kickoff program was attended by Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon, Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, Dr. Jay-R Cacao, and Dr. Rheuel Bobis of DOH-Ilocos Center for Health Development, City Health Officer Dr. Joseph Adaya, and Laoag City Councilor Roger John Fariñas.

"The Philippines has one of the greatest numbers of children that are unprotected with any vaccine. We are the Top 5 in the world with more than one million of our children who have not received any single dose of any routine childhood vaccine for life-threatening diseases such as polio, measles-rubella," said Mayor Marcos Keon in his speech.
 
According to DOH-CHD I, they aim to vaccinate 48,985 for Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) and 41,745 for Measles-Rubella (MR) in Ilocos Norte while for the whole of Region 1, they aim to vaccinate 503,962 for PV and 431,162 for MR.
 
Overall, the DOH hopes to vaccinate 95 percent of children who are eligible for vaccination.
 
Bobis said that the aim of this immunization campaign is for the protection of children against VPDs and ensure to the parents that the vaccines are safe and effective.
 
"Protection ng ating mga kabataan laban sa mga sakit na measles, rubella, polio, at isa pang layunin ay maibalik ang confidence ng ating mga kababayan sa ating mga bakuna. Ang mga bakuna natin ay ligtas, epektibo at libre, so makakakuha kayo ng protection, magiging ligtas at hindi kayo gagastos para sa mga bakuna na ito," Bobis said.
 
Meanwhile, parents who attended the event expressed their gratitude for the government's support and implementation of child care programs.
 
"Bilang isang magulang, nagagalak kami dahil may ganitong programang hatid ang gobyerno. Hindi na kami gagastos pa para mapabakuhan ang aming mga anak upang sila ay makaiwas sa mga delikadong sakit tulad ng measles, rubella at polio," said Roxanne Mae Gundran, a parent from Brgy. 6, Laoag City.
 
Measles, rubella, and polio are highly contagious and can be fatal.
 
Measles and rubella can cause serious complications, while polio causes lifelong paralysis.
 
Nevertheless, the DOH asserts that these can be completely prevented through vaccination.
 
For the 2023 MR-OPV Supplemental Immunization Activity, it is issued that children between the ages of 0 and 59 months be protected against poliovirus types 1 and 3 with one dose of the bivalent oral polio vaccine and that children between the ages of 9 and 59 months be protected against measles and rubella with one dose of the measles-rubella vaccine.
 
Up until May 31, parents can bring their kids to the barangay hall, rural health unit (RHU), or the barangay health station for free vaccination. (JCR/MJTAB/LMBA-Intern/PIA Ilocos Norte)