Massive door-to-door measles immunization to be held in Caraga

UTUAN CITY – At least 273,000 qualified infants and children, aged six-59 months old, will be provided with measles vaccines during the launching of the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity or MR SIA in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region from May 9 to 11.

“This time we will adopt a door-to-door strategy so that all qualified infants and children can avail of the measles vaccines,” said Regional Director Dr. Jose R. Llacuna Jr., of the Department of Health (DOH Caraga Region 13), in a media forum held here on Thursday.

He said MR SIA will be launched on the second week of May with a total of three phases. Region-wide immunization managers, health information officers and health personnel work in sync to provide identified infants and children one dose of measles containing vaccine.

Selected service delivery points in Caraga region are being assessed for readiness to ensure high-quality SIA through various activities in the preparation phase until the post implementation phase, the region’s DOH chief said.

“The month of May activity is one way to prevent measles outbreak,” emphasized Llacuna.

“The measles vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive and has been in the use since the 1960,” assured the region’s health official.

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends immunization for all susceptible children and adults for whom it is not contraindicated, he said.

“Let us not wait for an outbreak and let us be vigilant to the call of protecting our community through strong immunity,” Llacuna stressed.

In the Caraga region, a total of 55 suspected cases (of which 14 were laboratory confirmed) were admitted to different disease reporting units region-wide from January 1 to April 7 of this year.