DOH says QC boy with polio is ”immunocompromised”

January 17, 2020

The Department of Health (DOH) said a three-year old boy from Quezon City afflicted with the polio virus has been found to be immuncompromised. 

In an interview Friday, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said they have received a report the first patient from Metro Manila is immuncompromised, which makes him vulnerable to diseases despite getting a complete dose of oral polio vaccines. 

"The child is immuncompromised. He has several illnesses. Probably, this is why he was easily afflicted with the virus. He was not able to mount the adequate immune response during the vaccination," said Domingo. 

"The child is not healthy completely. If one is immuncompromised and the resistance is low, even if you get a vaccine, your body has no capability to mount an immune response versus the disease," he added. 

This, he said, is despite the child having received complete oral polio vaccine doses since 2016.

Domingo said this is where herd immunity becomes crucial as the community can help ensure immuncompromised children are protected.

"This is the reason why everyone must be vaccinated. Because there are immuncompromised children, who cannot mount immunity on their own. But if there is herd immunity, the circulating virus in the environment can be eliminated, then the immunocompromised children will be protected also," said Domingo. 

Last Thursday, the health department said the total number of polio cases in the country since the outbreak was declared in September 2019 is now 16. DMS