The provincial government of Ilocos Norte is ramping up its public health efforts, aiming to immunize over 25,000 additional children against measles and rubella before the end of August.
Data as of August 13 indicates that 16,889 young residents—representing 39.6% of the target population—have been vaccinated, leaving 25,743 children still needing protection against these preventable conditions.
In a statement on Friday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rickson Balalio explained that the ongoing campaign targets eligible children between 6 and 59 months old. Immunization services are being distributed across local health centers, educational institutions, barangay stations, and neighborhood drive sites.
Healthcare teams are actively coordinating with municipal officials and local families to ensure comprehensive reach across both urban hubs and isolated villages.
”We encourage all parents and guardians to support the Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization campaign for the whole month of August to prevent complications associated with measles and rubella, which can spread rapidly among unvaccinated populations,” Balalio said.
The initiative serves as a catch-up drive to address delayed or missed doses by bringing healthcare resources directly into local neighborhoods alongside heightened awareness campaigns.
Reassuring the public on safety, health officials emphasized that the administered vaccines undergo strict safety standards. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles-containing vaccines have a long track record of safe use spanning several decades, with severe side effects occurring exceedingly rarely.