DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Barangay 5-A resident Roselyn Soco took the opportunity to have her four-year old child receive polio vaccine during the government’s massive synchronized vaccination here on Monday morning. (Oct. 14).
Soco told Davao Today that she feared for her child’s health after learning that Polio virus has been detected in the Davao River, which is near their barangay.
“I made sure she will get vaccination to ensure that she’ll be safe from Polio, especially that it could possibly lead to death,” she said.
The Department of Health (DOH), along with the City Government of Davao, have kick off the first round of its “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” campaign which will happened until Oct. 27. The health department officially launches a series of massive polio vaccination that will also be conducted in other areas in Mindanao, including in Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Marawi City as a response to the polio outbreak in the country.
The kick off activity on Monday was also attended by representatives from DOH central office, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), city health officials, among others.
In Davao City, over 180 thousand under-five children are targeted to be given with complete doses of immunization vs Polio, including three doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), and one dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV).
“We will aim for 100 percent coverage of polio vaccination here in the city,” DOH-11 regional director Annabelle Yumang said in her speech.
The DOH assured that the polio vaccine given to the children are ‘safe and effective’.
Davao City is among the identified priority areas in the country for polio vaccination after the DOH confirmed the detection of polio virus in the Davao River.
Polio is a highly infectious disease, which can cause paralysis, and death in rare occasions. It can spread from person to person through contact with feces infected with polio virus.
Another two rounds of massive polio immunization will happen in November 25 to December 7; and on January 6 to 18, 2020. (davaotoday.com)
