AMID the polio epidemic in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, October 4, said the public need not wait for barangay and local health personnel to pay them a visit and administer the oral vaccine.
In a statement, DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said parents and caregivers of children five years old and below can bring their children to the nearest health center to get the oral polio vaccine (OPV).
“There is no cure for polio. It can only be prevented with three doses of the polio vaccine that are safe and effective,” said Vergeire.
"Vaccination is the best way to protect your child against vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio," she added.
The health official issued the reminder after a house-to-house synchronized oral polio vaccination in the City of Manila last August only managed to reach 54 percent.
The result was way below the required 95 percent by the DOH to attain herd immunity.
Based on their assessment, Vergeire noted how 41 percent of those left unvaccinated were due to parents or caregivers or the child who were not around during the vaccination schedule.
Other reasons stated were unawareness of the vaccination activity; their children were sick; that they already had their children vaccinated by a private doctor; or their lack of trust in barangay health workers and in the vaccine.
Last month, the Health department declared a polio outbreak in the Philippines after a three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur tested positive of the polio virus.
Because of this, the DOH said it is preparing to hold a series of synchronized oral polio vaccinations in different parts of the country later in the month. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)