The city government is targeting more children for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and measles immunization, an official said Monday.

Dr. Inah Grace Chiu, the city’s medical director of the National Immunization Program, said the Department of Health in Northern Mindanao Region (DOH-10) has directed the City Health Office (CHO) to target 70 percent full vaccination of children aged five to 11 years old in the Covid-19 drive.

The DOH-10 also ordered a 100 percent first booster dose coverage for 12-17-year-olds in the same drive.

“Based on the DOH-Northern Mindanao report, this city has the second-lowest number of vaccinations for five to 11 years old, only 52.53 percent, in the whole region,” Chiu said in a press briefing here.

Under the recalibrated target population of 526,613 on July 1, 2022, Chiu said the CHO has vaccinated a total of 92,977 individuals.

Of the number, 71,432 children aged five to 11-years-old received vaccination.

However, only 37,523 out of the 71,432 children of the age group were fully vaccinated with the two-dose shots.

Despite this, the city vaccinated 1.4 million individuals since the start of the inoculation drives in 2021.

The city has a 728,402 population according to Philippine Statistics Authority, but CHO has extended its vaccination in nearby towns and provinces.

Meanwhile, the CHO is also imposing its active campaign on measles vaccination in the barangays.

Chiu said the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a low turnout for children aged 9 to 24-months-old in the measles immunization drive.

Booster shots for measles are also made available for individuals aged 14 to 45 years old, she added.

Dr. Rachel Dilla, the CHO head, expressed apprehension that the city might experience a measles epidemic because of low vaccination turnout.

“There is a chance of death for those who will not be immunized, so I encourage the parents to get their children vaccinated with anti-measles doses in their barangay health centers,” she said. (PNA)