MR-OPV SIA WEBINAR ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

Question and answer

VACCINE AND VACCINE ADMINISTRATION

1. Question: You mentioned that the SIA doses should not be counted as part of the
routine immunization doses. Dahil po ba ito ay dagdag dose o nagsisilbing booster dahil
may outbreak ng polio at tigdas?

Answer: The MR and OPV doses that will be given in the MR-OPV SIA are additional
doses to prevent an impending measles outbreak and stop the polio outbreak.

2. Question: Paano po kung kaka-receive lang ng MR or OPV vaccine ng isang bata, do we

need to wait for another 28 days before giving the MR OPV SIA?

Answer: All children aged 9-59 months shall be vaccinated with MR vaccine regardless
of immunization status but with a minimum of at least four (4) weeks interval from the
last dose of MCV received.

3. Question: When the schedule of routine coincides with the SIA, do we reschedule the
routine? if yes, when is the appropriate time to reschedule?

Answer: Routine immunization services shall continue at all fixed posts based on the
national immunization schedule. These services shall not be stopped during the
campaign schedule and shall be provided daily for the whole day for the whole duration
of the campaign.

Answer: Remember, for your MR vaccine, you still follow the 4-weeks interval. And
remember that this campaign is supplemental only. So if the child is due for his/her
measles vaccine, give this MR and record as supplemental and after 4 weeks give the
routine vaccine dose and record.

4. Question: Ang Lanao del sur po ay katatapos lang ng SPKP 5, do we still need to give
OVP SIA?

Answer: No, Mindanao areas will only give MR vaccine during this campaign.

5. Question: If the routine MR or OPV coincides with the SIA, do we need to re schedule
the routine MR/OPV?

Answer: For MR vaccine please follow your 4-weeks interval. However for polio no
interval is needed so you can give anytime.
PROCESS AND PROCEDURES

Question: Mandatory ba ang screening sa mga parents kasi wala po kami resources para sa test
kits?

Answer: Ayon sa MR-OPV guidelines, ang screening (not testing) para sa mga parents na
magpapabakuna ng anak ay gagawin para malaman kung may mga sintomas ng COVID-19 at
kung na-expose sila sa may taong kumpirmadong may COVID-19 or pinaghihinalaang mayroon
nito.

HANDLING REFUSALS

6. Question: Do we need to create a refusal team for MR-OPV SIA?

Answer: It is highly recommended that each barangay forms a vaccine refusal team that
will be tasked to address refusals, if any. This team can be composed of the barangay
chairman or other officials, a doctor/pediatrician or nurse, a religious leader, and others
who are trusted by people in the community. This team should determine the proper
coordination and what to do in case there is a refusal, which cannot be addressed by the
vaccination team.

5. Question: How do we deal with parents who refuse to vaccinate their children due to
religious belief?

Answer: Verify if the refusal is because of religious beliefs, by talking to the parent.
Probe and listen to their explanation. It is useful to engage their religious leader to
confirm and if it is not really against their religious beliefs, ask the religious leader to
help convince the parent.

Before the start of the campaign, determine families who might refuse the vaccine
because of religious reasons and seek the support of their religious leaders through a
dialogue. In the case of hard refusal, continue to show respect, assure them that you
will welcome them at the health center once they decide to have their children
immunized.

6. Question: We anticipate refusals to the MR vaccine as the community may think it is

SARS-COV2 vaccine.
Answer: It is good that you are anticipating such issue. It is useful for vaccination teams
to know the facts regarding the MR and OPV vaccines and about the MR-OPV SIA as
these can be used to counter any misinformation.