ANTI-POLIO DRIVE. A total of 43,392 children 0-4 years old have received free oral polio vaccination since the implementation of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP)” program of the Department of Health (DOH) in Angeles City, Pampanga. The polio vaccination drive kicked off on Aug. 3 until Aug. 16, 2020. (Photo by Angeles city government)
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – A total of 43,392 children aged 0-4 have received free oral polio vaccination since the implementation of “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP)” program here.
Executive Assistant Reina Manuel said on Friday that the city government has a high number of beneficiaries for SPKP, garnering 89.61%, which is the third-highest completion rate in Central Luzon.
The Department of Health (DOH) program is in partnership with the Angeles city government and started here last August 3.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. cited the efforts of the city health workers to carry out the house-to-house oral vaccination amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, ensuring that all safety protocols are being strictly observed.
“Despite the pandemic, we are grateful that we have conducted the mass immunization successfully yet carefully at the grassroot level to guarantee the safety and welfare of the Angeleño kids in the city’s 33 barangays,” Lazatin said.
Dr. Verona Guevarra, city health officer, said they have formed 240 teams to expedite the vaccination program so that all children 0-4 years old could avail of the free health service.
The City Health Office will continue the anti-polio immunization drive until August 16 and the children will be receiving their second dose of polio vaccine in the second round of synchronized polio immunization campaign in September, this year.
Meanwhile, Lazatin is encouraging parents to allow their kids to be vaccinated, saying this is for the benefit of their children’s health.
According to the WHO, poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under five years of age.
The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle such as contaminated water or food, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis. (PNA)
