The Department of Health (DOH) cited the Muntinlupa City government for its vaccination campaign against polio, measles, and rubella.
In a citation given to the city, the DOH said Muntinlupa gave a "great contribution in the achievement of goals and objectives of the Measles-Rubella and bivalent Oral Poliovirus Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity."
Dr. Juancho Bunyi, City Health Office head, presents to Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon the citation given by the DOH as Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro and Councilor Arlene Hilapo look on (Photo from Muntinlupa PIO)
"This would not have been possible if not for the hard work of our health workers and the cooperation of our parents, so we are very grateful," Mayor Ruffy Biazon said.
He added, "As parents, we have the obligation to protect our children from these life-threatening illnesses through immunization.”
In May, Muntinlupa participated in the DOH-led "Chikiting Ligtas (Safe Kids)," a nationwide immunization campaign against polio for children from zero to 59 months old, and against measles and rubella for kids aged 9 to 59 months.
The initiative aimed to raise the country's protection against measles, polio, or rubella. This is due to the low vaccination turnout brought about by the lockdowns imposed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and increased vaccine hesitancy resulting from rampant misinformation.
According to the city government, a major outbreak of any of these diseases could have serious consequences: Polio being incurable and can lead to paralysis; rubella, while treatable, could have harmful effects on unborn children when contracted during pregnancy; and unvaccinated measles could lead to increased cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare viral neurodegenerative disease activating up to 10 years after a measles infection that is almost 100 percent fatal.
Biazon urged all parents to continue the vaccination regimen of their children to avoid these dreaded diseases.
"We encourage all parents to have their children immunized against polio, measles, and rubella. Vaccines are safe, free, and effective. These have undergone enough studies and clinical trials, so there is no need to worry--these are meant to protect our children," he said.