The Valenzuela City local government launched the month-long polio vaccination in Barangay Canumay West on Tuesday, May 2.
“Chikiting Ligtas sa Dagdag Bakuna Kontra Polio, Rubella, at Tigdas" is a program launched by Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie "WES" Gatchalian in partnership with the officers of City Health Office (CHO) and Barangay Canumay West.
It is part of the city’s continuous effort in achieving a healthy lifestyle for the Valenzuelano families.
Gatchalian said the vaccination drive was pursuant to the program launched by the Department of Health (DOH), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organization (WHO).
DOH called the program as “Chikiting Ligtas 2023: Join the Big Catch Up, Magpabakuna para sa Healthy Pilipinas," which was implemented last April 27, as part of the World Immunization Week.
It is a nationwide supplemental immunization campaign that targets to protect children against measles, rubella, and polio.
According to DOH, more than nine million children aged nine months old to 59 months old are entitled to receive the anti measles-rubbella vaccines, while more than 11 million children, with same age range, are eligible to receive the oral polio vaccine.
DOH also reported a growing number of Filipinos who are "vaccine hesitant," that made the Philippines one of the countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children in 2021.
The rate of decline in vaccination among local children raised to 87 percent in 2019.
Meanwhile, the city government assured the parents that the vaccination campaign will serve as an additional dose of protection to their children.
“Ang mga babae po, kapag nagkaroon ng Rubella o German Measles, hindi po kayo magkakasakit pero ang inyong ipinagbubuntis, bulag, maliit ang ulo, o kaya naman ay butas ang puso. Ang gusto po natin ang mga anak natin ay matalino, nakakakita at aktibo, makukuha po natin ang proteksyon sa pamamagitan ng bakuna. Ang mga babaeng mas bata sa limang taon na ating babakunahan ngayon ay habambuhay na protektado sa Rubella at ang kanyang ipagbubuntis sa hinaharap ay hindi magkakaroon ng komplikasyon ng Rubella. Ang ginagawa po natin ngayon ay para sa kinabukasan ng buong Valenzuela, kaya naman pinasasalamatan natin si Mayor WES Gatchalian at ang DOH para sa mga dala nilang bakuna. Dahil dito sa Valenzuela, hindi lang Tuloy ang Progreso, Pamilyang Valenzuelano ang ating inaalagaan. [When women are infected with German Measles, you will not be sick but the baby you are carrying will be, they will either be blind, will have small head, or will have a defective heart. We want our children to be smart, healthy, and active, and we can be protected by these vaccines. All the girls below 5 years old who will be vaccinated today will be protected against Rubella for life, and their children in the future will likewise be protected against its complications. We are doing this for the future of Valenzuela City, that is why we are thanking Mayor WES Gatchalian and DOH for the vaccines they brought here. Because here in Valenzuela, it's not just continued progress, we also take care of the families)," city health officer Dr. Marthony Basco explained.
The month-long vaccination campaign will run until the end of May.
Personnel will be deployed in local health stations to accept walk-in patients.
Parents are also advised to bring their children's vaccination cards upon registration.
A house-to-house vaccination drive will also be conducted for children who cannot go to healthcare centers.
Other attendees during the kick-off ceremony were Canumay West Punong Barangay Mario San Andres, DOH representative Glizelle Bercacio, Valenzuela City National Immunization Program medical coordinator Dr. Andrea Gamalinda, and officers of the city's Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs).