Zambo health workers brave barangays to immunize children

DESPITE THE Covid-19 pandemic, Zamboanga’s brave health workers continue their daily immunization of children against Measles Rubella and Polio.

The Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity in Zamboanga City. Regardless of the circumstances, hardworking health workers are always on the go for the sake of the children. (Christine Lim)

Photos of health workers were also posted on Mayor Beng Climaco’s Facebook page and showed them immunizing children.

“Regardless of the circumstances, our hardworking health workers are always on the go for the sake of the children,” according to the caption on the photos taken by Christine Lim, the City Health Office’s Health Education and Promotions Officer.

Climaco said the immunization - which began October 26 and ends on November 25 - targets children 9 months to below 5 years old. The

The Department of Health said an estimated 2.4 million children under the age of 5 are susceptible to measles - one of the most contagious diseases in the world. About 9 out of 10 people exposed to the measles virus - who are not immune - will contract the disease. It can cause high-grade fever, rashes, cough, and eye infection and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, blindness, severe diarrhoea, and swelling of the brain.

Polio, on the other hand, is a potentially debilitating disease that causes fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness and can eventually lead to lifelong paralysis. There is an ongoing outbreak of polio with cases reported from Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance and presence of environmental samples with poliovirus. If severe enough, both diseases can ultimately lead to death. There is no specific treatment for these illnesses. The only reliable protection is through vaccination.

The nationwide Measles Rubella - Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization will be rolled out in two phases - Phase 1 from October 26 to November 25 in Mindanao Regions, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, MIMAROPA Region, and Bicol Region.

Phase 2 will be conducted in February next year in Visayas Region, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON. Children 9-59 months old will be given Measles - Rubella vaccine while 0-59 months old will be provided with oral Polio vaccine. (Zamboanga Post)

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