Manila reaches 81.6% of target in measles-rubella vaccination

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government has reached 81.6 percent of its target coverage for the measles-rubella vaccination since the start of the immunization program last February 1.

Latest report from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 114,936 children in the city were vaccinated in a span of nine days, the Manila Public Information Office said in a statement Friday.

Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said this was the highest recorded data for measles vaccination in any local government unit in Metro Manila as of February 11.

Pangan also said that the Manila Health Department (MHD) is ready to vaccinate the remaining 25,890 children in the city by next week.

The MHD aims to complete the measles-rubella immunization program prior to the arrival of Covid-1 9 vaccines, according to Pangan.

“We targeted na matapos talaga agad itong measles vaccination para mas makapaghanda rin ang Manila Health Department sa oras na magsimula na tayo sa mass Covid-19 vaccination dito sa Manila,” he said.

(We targeted to finish the measles vaccination so that the Manila Health Department can better prepare for the mass Covid-19 vaccination in Manila.)

The DOH earlier said it aims to vaccinate 5.1 million children aged 9 to 59 months old with the measles-rubella vaccine under the phase 2 of the immunization program, which is now being done in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and Visayas.

Phase 1 of the measles-rubella vaccination last year in Mindanao, Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa and Bicol Region posted a coverage of 93 percent.

EDV