ROXAS City — Health officials in Capiz are optimistic that they could reach 95 percent of their mass immunization targets by the month’s end.
As of Sept. 16 — 12 days since the mass immunization started on Sept. 1 — 48,585 children (56 percent of targets) were given measles and rubella immunization, revealed Provincial Health Office information officer Antonio Ynigo Rafael Altavas.
Some 54,963 children (54 percent of targets), meanwhile, were given oral polio vaccines, said Altavas.
Immunization targets in Capiz were 86,037 children for measles and rubella and 101,002 for polio, he said.
Altavas said they were sustaining a 5-percent target accomplishment every day since the month-long immunization campaign started.
Among the challenges they encounter, he said, were bad weather and the distant location of some barangays.
In spite of these, the health officials believe they can achieve their target with the help of local government units, from the city and towns down to the barangays.
The nationwide mass immunization program aims to immunize 11 million children aged 5 years old and below.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease, and 95 percent of the population must be immunized to eliminate it, the Department of Health said.
Of the 31,550 suspected measles cases reported in the country from Jan. 1 to April 5, 9,185 have been confirmed, records showed.
In Capiz alone, the Provincial Health Office recorded 327 suspected measles cases, of which 25 were confirmed, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 29. (PIA/PN)
