The Quezon City Health Department intensifies efforts against polio through continuous vaccination drives and information dissemination.
Last October 14, Quezon City launched the Sabayang Patak Laban sa Polio (Synchronized Oral Polio Vaccination) as part of its mitigating efforts against the re-emergence of the polio virus in the country after 20 years.
In support to the national campaign against this highly infectious virus, Quezon City started its vaccination drives for children ages five years old and below (0-59 months).
As of October 20, the QC Health Department, the Department of Health, and its partner agencies have successfully vaccinated 160,000 children during the first round. This is 60% of its overall target of 274,785 children in the city.
“I thank the 323 teams of health workers from the QC Health Department, DOH, and other agencies in leading this extensive vaccination drives. There is more work to be done to ensure that our children are safe from this contagious virus,” QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
However, there is a significant number of parents who refused to have their children vaccinated despite the explanations of the health workers. Some parents worry about the side effects of the oral vaccine, while some have refused because their children have already completed the vaccination through their private doctors prior to these efforts. The QC Health Department reiterates that oral polio vaccine is safe, and an additional dosage of this is an added protection to the children.
Belmonte urges parents, guardians, community leaders, and religious groups to enlist their children to be part of the vaccination drives in order to stop the disease from spreading rapidly. “Oral polio vaccines are free therefore I appeal to everyone to have their children vaccinated. It is our responsibility to protect these children and our communities from polio.”
Belmonte also appeals to families living in gated subdivisions and condominiums to allow doctors in their vicinities. “We strongly seek the cooperation of home-owners associations, and building officials in order to ensure that all children under five are vaccinated. Please allow our doctors to implement our city-wide efforts even in private subdivisions and high-rise condos.”
There will be continuous house-to-house vaccination efforts, and fixed vaccination areas in barangays, malls, and bus stations within the city.
The second round of vaccination will happen on November 25 to December 7, 2019.
