MR vaccination rate in Central Visayas remains low

Local

ONLY 22% of children targeted for measles-rubella (MR) vaccination in Central Visayas had received the vaccine as of Sept. 3.

Health officials on Thursday, Sept. 3, cited social media disinformation as a major factor behind parental refusals.

The Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-7) reported that 139,712 of the region’s 630,214 eligible children aged 6 months to 59 months had been vaccinated as of 2 p.m. Thursday.

The agency also recorded 38,108 refusals, equivalent to 6% of the regional target, and 16,569 deferred vaccinations.

Cesar Ian Molina, a nurse II with the National Immunization Program, said disinformation circulating on social media remains one of the main reasons parents refuse the MR vaccine.

“Ang pinaka-main gyud is the disinformation nga ilang nakita sa social media,” Molina said.

Molina said the assessment was based on daily reports from team leaders deployed across Bohol, Cebu, and the region’s highly urbanized cities.

He said some parents continue to decline the vaccine despite health education and advocacy efforts during the campaign.

In Cebu Province, 71,302 of 336,406 target children had been vaccinated, equivalent to 21.2% coverage.

Cebu City recorded an even lower rate at 18.5%, with 16,750 of its 90,604 target children vaccinated.

Among Cebu’s three highly urbanized cities, Lapu-Lapu City posted 30.2% coverage, while Mandaue City recorded 29.9%.

Molina also noted that some parents accepted the Vitamin A supplement administered during the campaign but declined the MR vaccine.

“Naay uban, Vitamin A lang i-avail. Ila dawaton, not the MR vaccine,” he said.

The MR supplemental immunization activity (MR-SIA) was extended through Sept. 4 to allow health teams to conduct mop-up activities, including house-to-house vaccination.

Molina said health workers are looking for eligible children who have not reached fixed vaccination sites, including those whose parents may be willing to have them vaccinated.

“Ang among tan-aw sa health workers sa house-to-house is amo pangitaon ang wala pa gyud matagaan kay basin diay gusto ganahan modawat, but layo ra sila sa among vaccination post, o dili sila maadto,” he said.

The campaign’s final reporting will close on Sept. 6, after which health workers will return to the routine immunization program, Molina said.(TGP)