Mati City Health Office personnel conduct vaccination in various barangays in Mati City, Davao Oriental, in the ongoing "Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio". (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – The City of Mati Health Office (CHO) has achieved 82 percent of its target of under five-year-old kids to be vaccinated with the anti-polio vaccine in all 26 barangays, days before the "Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio" ends on December 7.
Mati CHO vaccinated a total of 14,328 children since the polio vaccination started on November 25, consisting of 2,687 aged 0-11 months and 11,641 children aged 12-59 months.
A statement by the Mati City Information Office on Tuesday said Mati CHO eyes to vaccinate 17,448 kids under 5-years-old.
During their visit to various barangays, the CHO reported that about 39 families refused to have their children vaccinated due to religious belief and out of fear that it may cause some illness to their children.
It said Mati CHO tried convincing the families on the importance of immunization and disputed the myths surrounding it, to no avail.
The CHO said 475 kids under five had their vaccinations deferred due to sickness and 889 were not in their homes during the visits.
The CHO said its personnel will make the rounds again to target children who remain uncovered in the ongoing immunization.
Another round of vaccination is scheduled on January 20 to Feb. 2, 2020. (PNA)
