This week health workers across the Philippines began the month-long mass immunization activity against measles, rubella and polio. The World Health Organization and the British Government are working with the Philippine Department of Health, UNICEF and a host of other partners to help deliver this campaign. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Serum Institute have contributed over five million doses of the MR vaccine with the support of International Health Partners.
It has taken months of preparation to organize a mass immunization activity of this size and scale and involves thousands of people across the country. The aim is to immunize 13 million children nationwide over the coming month. A determined effort will bring measles in the country down to very low levels and move towards measles elimination throughout the Philippines, reduce rubella rates and support efforts to keep the Philippines polio-free.
Dr Julie Hall of WHO said, “All three diseases are preventable if children are vaccinated correctly. The WHO is committed to a world in which nobody need worry about the threat of measles, rubella or polio. We are delighted to support the mass immunization activity this month.”
British Ambassador Asif Ahmad endorsed the UK’s commitment and said “Prince Charles who was visiting India when Typhoon Yolanda struck, immediately engaged his charities, International Health Partners and British Asian Trust, to deliver vaccines to children in the Philippines. Both directly and as a member of international institutions like the WHO, Britain is making a determined effort to improve the life chances of young Filipinos”.
