Measles vaccination drive goes into high gear in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY – Massive measles vaccination drive went into high gear in various places in the five provinces and six cities in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region.
In a press forum here on Thursday, Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna Jr. said Rapid Coverage Assessment Response Teams (RCARTs) under the agency’s Nurse Deployment Program (NDP) have already been mobilized to assist various local government units (LGUs) in the massive immunization drive, along with barangay health workers (BHWs).
Initially, 200 NDPs were deployed in the all-out and massive immunization campaign.
“Surigao City is among the areas that is being targeted by the massive immunization drive,” stressed Director Llacuna.
“I want to inform the general public that the measles vaccine is very safe and very effective and I urge the parents to get their children vaccinated,” stressed further the region’s DOH 13 chief.
The DOH 13 Center for Health Development (CHD) Caraga has already recorded a total of 208 suspected measles cases in the various parts of the region, from January 1-February 20, 2019.
“With this, new record, the agency has intensified advocacy and mop-up vaccination in the entire region,” Director Llacuna said.
Areas with highest suspected measles cases are Surigao City with 61 cases, followed by Agusan del Sur with 41 cases, Surigao del Norte with 38 cases.
Barangays Washington, Taft, San Juan and Luna, all in Surigao City are also being closely monitored by the DOH 13.
“At present, the DOH 13 CHD Caraga has activated its Incident Command System ((ICS) to better and closely coordinate response with the LGUs involved,” he said.
Llacuna also said the agency has already coordinated with the various hospitals in the region for them to establish “Fast Lanes” for measles-related cases and intensify infection control practices.
Measles is a contagious disease caused by the measles virus. This virus can survive in the air for at most two hours, thus, it can be transmitted through the air, health officials here said, during the same press forum.