CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government, led by Governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda, joined the Department of Health (DOH) in its region-wide Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP) campaign aimed at giving children aged 0 to 59 months protection against the risk of the reemerging poliovirus.

Janet Miclat, DOH-Central Luzon family health cluster head, announced that the region-wide polio vaccination will kick-off in Pampanga on August 3.

"Although we know that we have this Covid-19 pandemic, it is also important to address the outbreak of polio. Because our polio outbreak is here even before Covid-19, so it is very disappointing and debilitating, kawawa ang mga bata na naaapektuhan dahil sila ay napaparalisa. There is no cure for it, but we can prevent it through vaccination," said Miclat.

The DOH is currently strengthening its partnership with the provincial government, other agencies and stakeholders to make sure that no child is left unvaccinated.

"With this program, and other DOH programs, we are always in continuous coordination and collaboration because we are all committed to reaching every child, not only for polio but in all other vaccine-preventable diseases," Miclat said.

Amid the fear of vaccines, Board Member Anthony Joseph "Tonton" Torres, health committee chair, is pleading with parents to have their children vaccinated.

"Definitely, we do not have any problems with the vaccine. This is one of the vaccines na talagang very effective. Alam naman natin na mayrong agam-agam ang ating mga Cabalen at kababayan pagdating sa vaccines na ibinibigay ng gobyerno, pero ang hinihiling natin dito ay magkaroon ng tamang impormasyon kung paano ang magiging methodology nitong simultaneous na pagpatak ng bakunang ito laban sa polio," Torres said.

SPKP will be done in two phases: first, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Angeles City, City of San Jose Del Monte; second, the rest of region 3, including the province of Pampanga. (PR)