CHO reports 71% coverage in anti-measles drive, 69% polio

CHO reports 71% coverage in

anti-measles drive, 69% polio

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) –With two weeks away before the end of the month, the City Health Office has  reported a 71% accomplishment in the massive measles drive and 68% in the polio immunization drive for children set for the entire month of September.

City Health Officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos said CHO efforts have resulted to 74,055 children vaccinated for measles, while 84,001 children received their oral polio vaccination (OPV) since the drive was launched September 1.

The massive immunization, which is currently ongoing in the different barangay health centers and outposts in the City, will run from September 1 – 30. To ensure its completion, the CHO will conduct no other health activity for the month.

 “The City Health Office, together with the Department of Health, is on moratorium that no other activity should come in on the month of September so that we can concentrate on the massive measles, rubella and polio immunization,” said Agbulos.

For Zamboanga City, the CHO has targeted a total of 104,719 measles-rubella immunization and 122,931 polio vaccinations. To date, immunizations for both measles and polio have broken the 50% accomplishment mark, with measles immunization now 71% completed and polio immunizations at 68% completion.

Given these accomplishments, the health officer is confident that the CHO will be able to complete all its targeted immunizations by the end of September.

“Within two weeks’ time, we will be able to accomplish 100%,” he assured.

The measles-rubella vaccine is given to children from 9 months to 59 months. Meanwhile, the OPV is given to newborn babies, and children up to 59 months. (Jasmine Mohammadsali) (102614)