In a significant push to improve childhood immunization coverage, the City Health Office (CHO) continues its ongoing vaccination campaign across the city.
In addition to the routine immunization services offered in the District Health Centers, the CHO is set to expand its outreach efforts with a free immunization activity at the NCCC Mall from April 28 to 30 and May 2 to 3 as part of the broader initiatives to raise public awareness during World Immunization Week.
Dr. Analiza Malubay, National Immunization Program City Coordinator, said the CHO targets to vaccinate approximately 40,500 one-year-old infants this year.
She said that last year, the CHO vaccinated 23,000 of the 40,100 infants in Davao City. In the school-based vaccination initiatives, less than half of the 30,000 students were vaccinated.
Malubay also stressed that certain vaccine hesitancies remain prevalent among parents.
“Naa po’y uban parents hesitant pa kay nine years old pa lagi daw ang bata nganong tagaan na ug ingon ana (Human papillomavirus) nga bakuna when, in fact, it works best ana gyod nga edad for maximum effect (Some parents are still hesitant because they believe that since their child is only nine years old, there is no reason to administer the vaccine (Human papillomavirus) when it is most effective at that age),” she said.
She also urged all parents to avail of the free vaccination services in the District Health Centers and the upcoming immunization drive at the NCCC Mall. CIO
