Manila almost 90% complete in measles-rubella vaccination

LOOK:Children avail free vaccine against Measles-Rubella and Polio on a  Mobile Bus Vaccine Clinic at Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, during a mass vaccination campaign lead by the Philippine Red Cross on Saturday, Feb. 6. 📷:Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government is now 86.7% complete in its vaccination drive against measles and rubella (German measles), Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Monday.

“Yung bakuna sa bata, sa tigdas, ang Maynila ay 86% na in less than 2 weeks, 86% ang nabakunahan sa target market which is yung mga bata so in just less than 2 weeks, nakakatuwa naman, masisipag yung ating mga kawani sa Manila Health Department,” Domagoso said in a statement.

(The vaccine for kids, for measles, Manila is already 86% done in less than 2 weeks, 86% have been vaccinated among the target market, which is the children. It’s delightful, our staff in our Manila Health Department are hardworking.)

Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said the Manila Health Department (MHD) may be able to finish the said vaccination program on Wednesday, February 17, almost two weeks ahead of its schedule.

Pangan said MHD’s goal is to finish the measles-rubella vaccination program prior to the arrival of COVID-19 vaccine.

“We targeted na matapos talaga agad itong measles vaccination para mas makapaghanda rin ang Manila Health Department sa COVID-19 vaccination (we targeted to complete the measles vaccination immediately so that the Manila Health Department can also prepare for the COVID-19 vaccination). The vaccines may arrive anytime,” said Dr. Pangan.

“Helpful din para sa ating medical frontliners ang measles vaccination activity na ito dahil kahit papaano ay na-familiarize sila ulit sa proseso ng pagpapabakuna,” he added.

(This measles vaccination program is also helpful for our medical frontliners because they have somehow familiarized themselves again with the vaccination process.)

The vaccination program against measles is being implemented nationwide through the efforts of the Department of Health, World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund and other nongovernment organizations, and local government units across the country. — Zac Sarao, Trainee

EDV