MORE than 137,000 infants aged at least one year have been successfully inoculated against various preventable diseases as the Department of Health (DOH) surpassed its target number for the 10-day catch-up immunization campaign in Metro Manila.
In a statement, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that 137,701 infants have been vaccinated during the “Vax-Baby-Vax” campaign of the DOH-National Capital Region (NCR) office,
“With an original total target of 137,000 infants in the region, the DOH-NCR exceeded its target after inoculating an additional 701 infants, thus bringing the total coverage rate to 100.48%,” said Vergeire.
“Having done so means that we were successful in protecting our children against debilitating but easily-preventable diseases,” she added.
According to the DOH-NCR, the top three cities with the highest coverage rates were Manila with 28,073 or 130%; Quezon City with 23,732 or 129%; and Parañaque City with 10,803 or 122%.
Launched last November 7, the DOH-NCR campaign targeted infants who missed their routine immunization due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Administered were vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus (HPV).
Given the success of the campaign in Metro Manila, Vergeire said they are looking to replicate the vaccine rollout in other parts of the country.
“We did it in Metro Manila, we will also do this in other regions of the country. We will stop at nothing to reach every Filipino child, no matter where they are in the country,” said Vergeire.
DOH data showed that around 1.4 million Filipino children born during the COVID-19 pandemic have yet to receive a single routine vaccine dose.
Vergeire called on parents and guardians of infants to allow their babies to get their routine vaccines.
“It is not yet that late to have your infants vaccinated. Don’t wait for them to get sick. Let us allow them to have that needed protection,” said Vergeire.
