More than 300,000 children in the Ilocos Region have been successfully inoculated against measles and rubella, the regional office of the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) reported on Tuesday.
In the final bulletin for the “Ligtas Tigdas” campaign, the DOH-CHD-Ilocos Region reported that as of Sept. 6, a total of 300,613 children, representing 67.6 percent of the target population, received the vaccine.
A breakdown of the campaign data showed that the highest immunization coverage was achieved among children aged 24 to 59 months, with 207,113 vaccinated, or 69.8 percent.
They were followed by the 6 to 12 months age bracket at 66 percent with 38,074 children, and the 13 to 23 months group at 61.4 percent with 55,426 children.
Across provinces and independent component cities, Dagupan City registered the highest turnout at 94.1 percent with 14,471 children inoculated, closely followed by Ilocos Norte at 93.8 percent with 39,988 children.
Ilocos Sur recorded 86.5 percent with 42,102 children vaccinated, La Union reached 72.3 percent with 45,251 children, and Pangasinan logged 57.7 percent with 158,801 children.
Meanwhile, numerous local government units successfully surpassed the 95 percent immunization threshold.
Several municipalities even exceeded 100 percent coverage due to dynamic population tracking and catch-up drives, led by Currimao, Ilocos Norte (116 percent), Dingras, Ilocos Norte (111.1 percent), Bantay, Ilocos Sur (110 percent), and Carasi, Ilocos Norte (106.9 percent).
Other high-performing areas were Piddig (99.2 percent), Batac City (98 percent), Anda (98.1 percent), Marcos (97.5 percent), Solsona (97.4 percent), Candon City (97.1 percent), Pinili (97 percent), Sarrat (96.5 percent), Santo Tomas (96.5 percent), Laoag City (96.2 percent), Paoay (96.2 percent), Infanta (96 percent), Cervantes (96 percent), Pagudpud (95.9 percent), and Bangui (95.2 percent).
Regional health officials commended local health workers, barangay officials, and parent volunteers for their relentless immunization efforts, ensuring protection against highly contagious vaccine-preventable diseases across communities in the Ilocos Region. (PNA)
