by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (26 September) -- Capiz is targeting more than 55,000 children for the month-long measles immunization program.

Expanded Program on Immunization Coordinator Deborah Juanico of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here disclosed that they are aiming some 55,497 children aged 9 months to 4 years old for the Knock Out Target (KOT) campaign this year.

Juanico pointed out that children who have their birthday on October 15, 2003 to January 15, 2007 will be given measles vaccines regardless of the immunization status of said children.

On the other hand, children 1 year old up to below six years old will be given deworming tablet and Vitamin A, she said, adding that the provision of Vitamin A is the second round for the Garantisadong Pambata (GP) program.

Juanico said that the month-long activity, which will be launched simultaneously all over the country, will be on October 15 to November 15.

She said that the nationwide measles immunization campaign this year is a follow-up activity in 1999 and 2004.

This year's knock out tigdas drive in Capiz will be formally launched in sigma town, while the culmination activity on November 15 is set in Maayon, Capiz.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier urged the public to support the government's immunization program.

To ensure that all children have access to immunization services, the President has increased the budget of the Department of Health's (DOH) Immunization Project from P455 million this year to P485 million next year.

The increase will allow a greater number of mothers and their children aged two to five years to have access to immunization of BCG for childhood tuberculosis, Oral Polio Vaccine, measles, Hepatitis B, and diphtheria, pertusis and tetanus (DPT).