MANILA -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, May 23, appealed to parents to have their children vaccinated against preventable diseases under the Department of Health’s two-day “Chikiting Bakunation Day”.

“’Yung ang importante dito sa ‘yung topic ni Abdullah (Health Undersecretary Dumama) is ‘yung ano, ‘yung vaccination ng ‘yung two years pababa — bata, dapat pabakuna na ninyo,” President Duterte said during his regular Talk to the People program.

“‘Yung two years or less magpabakuna na niyo para ‘yung mga bata ninyo may proteksiyon. At least, sa lahat ng mutants diyan kung tatamaan ka man, may bagong variant, hindi masyado matindi kasi nandiyan na ‘yung bakuna, may proteksiyon ka na.”

In his report to the President, Health Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama said the DOH launched the “Chikiting Bakunation Day” slated on May 26 and 27. It aims to immunize children two years old and below.

“Ang goal po natin dito ay mabakunahan ang at least 80 percent of the remaining approximately 1.1 million infants who missed their routine immunization last 2021,” said Undersecretary Dumama.

“Ang mga bakuna pong ito ay ‘yung BCG vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, Pentavalent vaccine, Oral Polio vaccine, Inactivated Polio vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine, at Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine.”

Last month, the DOH conducted the vaccination drive in 36 priority provinces, Dumama said, noting more than 10,000 children haven’t completed their shots. This month’s immunization will be done throughout the country.

“Nasubok na po natin ng apat na dekada ang pagiging ligtas at epektibo ng ating mga bakuna. Dumaan na po ito sa masusing pagsusuri ng WHO at ng ating Food and Drug Administration, at pumasa naman po ito sa ating itinatalagang — itinalagang standards o pamantayan,” he said.

“At higit sa lahat po, mahal na Pangulo, dapat samantalahin po ng lahat ng mga kababayan natin ito dahil ito po ay libre.” (PND)