Citywide Campaign Focuses on Protecting Young Children
BACOLOD - Bacolod City has stepped up its preventive healthcare efforts with the launch of the “Ligtas Tigdas” Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity. The campaign is designed to provide additional protection to young children against measles and rubella, two vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious health complications. The initiative was formally launched on August 10 at the Mansilingan Activity Center in Barangay Mansilingan, with Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and Department of Health-Negros Island Region Director Dr. Razel Nikka M. Hao leading the campaign activities. The program forms part of the government's broader effort to make essential preventive health services more accessible to families.
Nearly 49,000 Children Targeted for Free Vaccination
The citywide immunization campaign will continue until August 28, with Bacolod aiming to achieve at least 95 percent coverage among 48,839 eligible children between six months and five years old. To reach children across different communities, the City Health Office has coordinated with barangay health centers and deployed 74 vaccination teams composed of city nurses and midwives. This community-based approach allows health workers to bring vaccination services closer to families instead of relying solely on residents to visit health facilities. Parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of the free vaccination being offered at designated barangay sites.
Health Workers Reinforce the Importance of Immunization
Health officials are also working to assure parents that the vaccines used in the campaign have undergone extensive testing and monitoring. National Immunization Program Coordinator Paulyne Sustento emphasized that measles and rubella vaccination has a long-established safety record and remains an important tool for preventing childhood illnesses. While both diseases can initially present with symptoms such as fever and rashes, they can lead to more serious consequences. Measles may result in complications including pneumonia and brain inflammation, while rubella can pose significant risks during pregnancy and may cause congenital rubella syndrome in babies.
