In her speech during the Chikiting Ligtas 2023 activity in Taguig City, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they continue to encourage parents and guardians to allow their children aged under five years old to get vaccinated against measles, rubella and polio.
“The Chikiting Ligtas 2023 program aims to prevent hospitalization or death of children from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, rubella, and polio,” said Vergeire.
“Thus, we continue to encourage children 59 months and below to visit the nearest health center and vaccination sites to get the free vaccines against measles, rubella, and polio,” she added.
On Monday, the DOH began its month-long immunization campaign against measles, rubella and polio.
A total of 11,108,115 kids 0 to 59 months are being eyed for oral polio vaccination.
Some 9,509,585 kids nine to 59 months are also being targeted for measles-rubella (MR) vaccines.
“They are those, who missed out on their routine immunization or were unable to get their vaccines at all due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Vergeire.
The immunization drive of the DOH will run until May 31. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)