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DOH kicks off catch-up immunization in Region 9

Philippines | Luzon

DOH kicks off catch-up immunization in Region 9

By Liza Jocson

ZAMBOANGA CITY â€“ The Department of Health-9 has started the catch-up immunization program to boost the immunity of children in the Zamboanga Peninsula here on Monday, November 13.

GOVERNMENT health workers immunize children during the MR-SIA vaccination campaign of the government early this year. (File photo)

From November 13 to 29, children aged zero to 23 months will be immunized against polio, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, and rubella, and administered pentavalent vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hepatitis B, and flu.

Teams from the DOH will visit municipalities and barangays all over the region to conduct the catch-up immunization.

The Health department launched the catch-up program after data showed that the government failed to reach its target vaccination rate for children for various diseases.

The target number for vaccination for various vaccines was 92,197 in Region 9, but 61,839 children were not immunized, for a vaccination rate of only 36 percent.

Dr. Augusto Manolo Alpichi, DOH-Local Health Support Services chief, attributed the failure to achieve the goal to vaccine hesitancy.

He said that this can be addressed by providing timely and accurate information to the Bacu-nanays (mothers), Papa-vaccines (fathers), and guardians of the target population.

Related Tags

Region 9 Immunization program Zamboanga Peninsula DOH

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