DOH – Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco administers an oral polio vaccine to a 3-year old child during a mass vaccination activity in Sto. Tomas, La Union.
THE Department of Health (DOH) has directed selected regional offices to extend the Measles, Rubella and bivalent Oral Poliovirus Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-bOPV SIA) in selected provinces and cities until June 15, 2023 to be able to cover the remaining unvaccinated children and achieved the 95% MR immunization coverage and prevent a widespread outbreak.
As of June 2, 2023, Ilocos region has achieved a total of 87% MR coverage (362,850 vaccinated out of 416,762) and 82% (157,074 out of 190,603 target) for OPV vaccination in priority areas based on the unofficial quick count conducted by the regional office.
Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz said that the vaccination campaign will only be extended in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Norte because they have yet to reach their 95% target rate since the end of the campaign on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
“The province of Ilocos Sur has accomplished 100.98% (46,783 MR jabs given out of the 46,330 target) vaccination rate and Dagupan City also has surpassed its target with 96.52% (13,772 jabs out of 14,269) coverage,” he disclosed.
Pangasinan, the biggest province of the region has recorded a total of 87.60% (or 224,793 vaccinated out of 256,615) followed by Ilocos Norte with 86.16% (or 34,957 out of 40,573) and La Union with 72.14% (or 42,545 out of 58,975).
“We still have to seek the remaining unvaccinated children to be able to reach our target and prevent the onset of an outbreak. Importante na mabakunahan natin silang lahat upang sila ay maging protektado at lumaking ligtas at malusog,” Albornoz stated.
“We encourage all parents of children aged 0-59 months old to avail of the MR-OPV vaccination and save them from threats of vaccine-preventable diseases. We also extend our gratitude to the efforts of our local government units and our health workers for their sacrifices and hard-work in vaccinating eligible children especially those residing in remote and hard-to-reach areas.”
For the bOPV coverage, Ilocos Sur achieved a 97.51% (8,995 received the vaccine out of the 9,225 target); Dagupan City with 94,47% (15,828 out of the 16,754 target); Ilocos Norte with 94.27% (12,430 out of the 13,186); Pangasinan with 80.43% (99,825 out of 124,110); and La Union – 73.17% (19,996 out of 27,328).
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