DBPH Admin2 
(L-R) Guest of Honor and Director III of the Office of Health Laboratories, Dr. Valerie Ann T. Tesoro watches as Governor Ramon V. Guico III administers the oral polio vaccine to one of his children during the MR-OPV SIA provincial launching held in Lingayen, Pangasinan. A total of 154 children were vaccinated during the activity.
Lingayen, Pangasinan – The Provincial Government of Pangasinan together with the Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region yesterday conducted the provincial launching of the Measles Rubella and bivalent Oral Polio virus Vaccine Supplementary Immunization Activities (MR-bOPV SIA) 2023 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
A total of 262,944 children aged 9-59 months old will be given measles, rubella (MR) vaccines while 307,548 children aged 0-59 months old will be receiving bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) polio and 6-59 months old children for vitamin A supplementation.
Governor Ramon Guico III said that all cities and municipalities in Pangasinan are prep and ready for the month-long activity. “Our city/rural health centers, day care centers, barangay health stations and identified vaccination sites will be immunizing eligible children beginning today at lahat ng kailangang mabakunahan ay bibigyan ng bakuna para sila ay maprotektahan laban sa tigdas at sa polio.”
“Magbabahay-bahay ang ating mga health workers kung kinakailangan upang masiguro ang 95% immunization coverage sa mga batang kinakailangang maturukan ng measles at polio vaccine.”
A total of 154 children were vaccinated during the launching activity held at the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol Training Center 1.
Food treats such as ice cream, hotdog and popcorn were given to children who attended the launching activity. Medicines and vitamins including paracetamol, vitamin c and multivitamins we also distributed.
Guest of Honor and Director III of the Office of Health Laboratories, Dr. Valerie Ann T. Tesoro, stated that the health department has recorded a 225 measles cases from January 1- to March 18, 2023 which is 369% higher than the same period last year. “We need to accelerate the catch-up campaign and prevent future outbreaks.”
“The Covid-19 has shown us that collective and concerted action works and we must exercise that same vigor for the MR-OPV SIA campaign to make sure that all our children will be immunized and protected.”
“We thank our LGU partners, developmental partners, civil society organizations and the public to join us and support the DOH’s Chikiting Ligtas 2023 to protect our children from vaccine preventable diseases. Ang bakuna po laban sa tigdas at polio at safe, sigurado at libre,” Tesoro emphasized.
