DOH extends oral polio vaccine program in Mindanao for a week

December 9, 2019

With seven out of the eight confirmed polio cases coming from Mindanao,  the Department of Health (DOH) has extended an oral polio vaccine campaign there for another week.

In an interview, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said they have decided to continue with the second round of the camoaign until December 13.

"The Round 2 in Mindanao will be extended for one more week so that we can do mop-ups in selected areas where the immunization coverage remains low," said Cabotaje.

She said they want to make sure all children aged 0-5 years old will be covered as all but one confirmed polio cases are from Mindanao.

"It is important that we adequately plow Mindanao because most polio cases came from that area. Our rapid coverage assessment indicate that many children there remain unvaccinated," said Cabotaje.

Cabotaje said the DOH  has also decided to push back the third and final round of the oral polio vaccine campaign in Mindanao.

Instead of  starting it on January 6, she said they will start the two-week campaign on January 20.

"This is give our health workers enough time (to prepare) after the long Christmas holiday," said Cabotaje. DMS