The City Health Office, the Department of Health, and various partners kicked off on Monday, January 19, the 2025 Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) covering children from 6 to 59 months.
During the activity held at SM Lanang, health officials and workers led the ceremonial vaccination of clients hailing from Barangays Ubalde and San Antonio, as well as communities from R. Castillo.
Lani Bitco, a resident of Barangay Ubalde who sought to vaccinate her three-year-and-five-month-old child, said she went to the activity knowing the benefits of the vaccines for her child.
“Ikatulo ko na ni nga anak. Importante gyud kaayo kay ang ikaduha nako nga anak nakaranas man gud og measles. Lisud gyud kaayo makatigdas, lisud kaayo magistambay sa hospital ba, walay tambal, igo ra gyud paracetamol tungod kay viral man gud siya. Nakatuon gyud ko nga pag-adto sa among barangay nga naay measles vaccination, adto gyud dayon ko para same protection (This is my third child. Vaccination is very important because my second child experienced measles. It was very difficult—having measles is hard, staying in the hospital is hard, and there is no specific medicine, only paracetamol, because it is viral. I really learned from that experience, so whenever there is measles vaccination in our barangay, I go there so we can have the same protection.),” she said.
Davao City Health Officer-in-Charge Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon, in a media interview, warned parents anew of the risks and complications of measles.
“Measles is a very contagious disease. One measles case can infect 11 to 12 children, which is why we encourage each and every child to be vaccinated,” he said.
The vaccination process starts with registration, followed by an interview with the doctor to determine the child’s condition, after which they proceeded to the vaccination area.
During the vaccination, aside from the Measles-Rubella vaccine, children aged six months to 11 months and 12 months to 59 months also receive Vitamin A from the CHO.
During the I-Speak Media Forum, CHO National Immunization Program Focal Person Dr. Annaliza Malubay said that 18 health centers, puroks, and malls serve as fixed vaccination sites for the MR-SIA, which will last until February 13.
For malls joining the campaign, Abreeza Mall and SM Ecoland conduct vaccinations on weekends starting at 10 a.m., while daily vaccinations are available at NCCC Buhangin and SM Lanang starting at 10 a.m.
Malubay said that the CHO prepared 270 vaccination teams to cover all 182 barangays, hopeful of reaching the city’s target of around 160,000 children.
CIO
Written by: K. Cañedo
Edited by: A, Nawal
Photo by: E.Morata
