AT least 137,000 newborns and infants in the National Capital Region are being eyed by the Department of Health (DOH) for routine vaccinations to prevent vaccine preventable diseases.
Gloria Balboa, director of the DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD), said the intensive catch-up immunization campaign will run from November 7 to 18 and targets 137,048 newborns and infants in Metro Manila.
At yesterday’s launch of the “Vax-Baby-Vax” campaign in Taguig City, Balboa said the DOH-MMCHD in September recorded about 256,400 newborn babies and infants aged 0-23 months old, who are eligible for “routine catch-up immunization.” Of the number, 119,352 or 46.55 percent “have been fully immunized,” she said.
“The regional office’s focus turns to the remaining 137,048 newborns and infants, who are yet to receive their required immunization,” she said.
Balboa said the target will be subjected to intensive catch-up routine immunization to provide early protection against vaccine-preventable diseases which include polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and hepatitis B.
Balboa appealed to parents and guardians of newborns and infants to bring their children to the nearest health facility for them to get jabbed.
“Parents and guardians will have a sense of assurance and confidence over the health of the family when they ensure the immunization of their young ones,” she said.
“They will benefit by saving money and resources in the long run because strong immunity of infants and children will lessen the risk of hospitalization and high medical expenses,” she added.
