DOH Urges Parents To Have Their Kids Vaccinated Against Polio
DOH – The Department of Health (DOH) encouraged parents to vaccinate their children in order to fight against poliovirus.
According to Inquirer, Philippines is now in danger of being polio-free for 19 years because fewer children are getting vaccinated.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that total vaccination against polio is the best preventive measure, further stressing that all children who are under a year old should complete three doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and one dose of inactivated polio vaccine.
Polio, also known a poliomyelitis or generally infantile paralysis, is a fatal and paralyzing disease caused by poliovirus. The disease can only be transmitted in areas in poor environmental sanitation and hygiene.
As per the report, the nation has been polio-free ever since the month of October in the year 2000 and will be in danger due to the transmission of poliovirus.
The coverage of the third dose of OPV dropped below 95% over the past few years, in which that 95% is the goal needed to secure protection against the disease. Duque pointed out that there is poor monitoring for the paralyzing disease, further adding that open defecation and low sanitation is mostly occurring in communities.
The nation is also in danger from being infected with poliovirus from nearby countries that are discovered that the virus is currently reoccurring.
Duque said that the nation will risk losing the status of being polio free unless acted on quickly in monitoring in order to detect signs of transmission of the virus, in improving the immunization program, and in strengthening environmental hygiene and sanitation.
Duque further stressed that this will risk the health and future of their children due to a disease that could have been prevented. The agency is currently identifying regions that has to enhance preventive measures against the disease.
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