PENAMPANG: It was a hot afternoon when a team from the district health office came to Putri Bahang Apartment here to conduct Supplementary Immunisation Activity (SIA).
The activity gives free vaccines for children aged between six-months and 17 regardless of their citizenship status.
It is held to increase herd immunity especially when there were measles outbreaks at the locality.
A notification about the two-day activity was issued to the management earlier, but no one turned up as they were unaware of the programme.
Instead of waiting for caregivers to bring their children, the team led by Public Health Medicine specialist and district health officer Dr Carol Lim went knocking door-to-door to find them.
Samson Philip was surprised by the unannounced visit but still heeded the advice to inoculate his children aged 8, 9 and 13.
"I was not aware of the activity but I know (getting sick) because of measles could be dangerous.
"In order for my children to have better antibodies against the disease, we decided to get the jabs," he said, adding that his children are all immunised.
The latest SIA activity saw 47 children vaccinated against measles.
Sabah Health director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said through the Penampang District Health Office, the department has conducted various prevention and control activities to address the spread of measles infections in the district.
As of Jan 31, measles immunisation coverage in the Penampang district has reached 95 per cent, achieving the target set by the Health Ministry.
However, he said difficulties persist in identifying vaccination status among some residents, especially foreigners who frequently move around.
This year, up to the fifth epidemiology week, targeted SIA was conducted in 16 measles case localities in the state.
A total of 366 children have been vaccinated, with 231 (63 per cent) being citizens and 135 (37 per cent) non-citizens.
"Key control measures implemented include comprehensive epidemiological investigations, laboratory investigations, environmental investigations, health promotion activities, and SIA for measles vaccine within a one-kilometer radius of measles case localities."
Dr Asits also said for the same period, a total of 30 measles cases were reported, representing an increase of over 100 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
"Demographic data for this year's cases shows that 87 per cent of cases are among citizens, with the highest age range affected being 18 years and above, accounting for 67 per cent of cases.
"Of the total, 17 percent of cases have received at least one measles immunisation dose, 27 per cent have never received measles immunisation, 53 per cent have unknown measles immunisation status, and three per cent are ineligible for vaccination."