THE Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) aims to reach the 50-percent first booster dose coverage among pediatric group and the first booster for 12 years and above.
Together with the World Health Organization (WHO), Unicef Relief International, the Philippine Pediatric Society Southern Tagalog Chapter (PPS-STC) and the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, in partnership with different local government units across the region, the DOH-Calabarzon will engage in the national campaign dubbed as “Bakunahang Bayan: Biyayang Proteksyon sa Paskong Pilipino,” which will be held from December 5 to December 7.
“Before the year ends, we are hoping that more people would want to come and avail the Covid-19 vaccines. In this campaign, we are targeting the young ones aged 5-11 years and the first booster for 12 years old and above,” DOH Calabarzon Assistant Regional Director Leda M. Hernandez said.
The kick-off is set on December 5 at the Jose F. Diaz Memorial Stadium, Barangay Guitnang Bayang I, San Mateo, Rizal and will be spearheaded by DOH Undersecretary Dr. Enrique A. Tayag, Municipality of San Mateo Mayor Bartolome N. Rivera Jr. and other DOH LGU of San Mateo staff.
“Ito na ang magsisilbing pamasko natin sa kanila, gawing mas ligtas ang bawat isa sa darating na pasko,” Hernandez added. [This will serve as our Christmas gift; to have a healthier Christmas for each one.]
Based on data from the Regional Vaccination Operations Center (RVOC), about 10,751,799 (91 percent) have completed their primary series of the Covid vaccine as of November 29. But only 3, 255,306 (28 percent) individuals have received their first booster shots.
Immunization for children
APART from the Covid-19 vaccination, DOH- Calabarzon will, likewise, hold routine immunization in Areza Mall and Shopping Complex, in Pagsanjan, Laguna on December 6 dubbed as “Bakunahang Bayan 2: Biyayang Proteksyon sa Paskong Pilipino-Batang Bakunado, ProtektoDOH” targeting children ages 0-23 months.
The said campaign aims to increase the coverage for the country’s fully immunized children (FIC), recorded to have been critically low during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The FIC in the Calabarzon region is only 33.96 percent, lower than the data recorded last year at 56.17 percent. The original target for routine immunization for children was 95 percent, but according to the DOH it is unlikely to be achieved. Instead, they will only target to exceed the coverage this year.
The DOH urged parents to ensure that their children complete the required doses and schedule of routine immunization to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases.