File photo shows a child receiving an oral vaccine against polio. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Parents must have their children immunized against preventable diseases, the Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children鈥檚 Fund (UNICEF), and the Rotary International stresse during World Polio Day on Sunday.
鈥淲hile we have successfully eradicated polio, we have to ensure that there will never be an outbreak again and it begins with vaccination,鈥� Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement.
Polio is a 鈥渉ighly infectious, crippling, and sometimes fatal disease鈥� that could be prevented through vaccination.
鈥淲e call on the parents to ensure that your child gets their routine immunization so they can be protected against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases,鈥� Duque added.
The Philippines declared the end of the polio outbreak in June 2021 after 18 months of response which saw the inoculation of around 11 million children.
In 2020, almost 500,000 children missed out on oral polio vacicne doses due to the restrictions and challenges pose by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH said.
Hence, the DOH launched the catch-up immunization campaign on October 13, beginning in Metro Manila.
鈥楲ife-saving vaccines鈥�
WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasignhe said that vaccines save lives.
鈥淥nce a commonplace illness, polio has been eliminated from most countries, including now again in the Philippines. This shows the power of vaccines to save lives and protect people from diseases such as polio,鈥� Abeyasinghe said.
UNICEF representative Oyunsaikjan Dendevnorov, meanwhile, called on 鈥渢he whole of society to intensify polio immunization to sustain our gains and prevent the further decline of polio immunization coverage.鈥�
鈥淲e still need to intensify our campaign to raise awareness and raise funds for polio. By doing these together, we can END POLIO NOW,鈥� Rotary International Zone 10A End Polio Now Coordinator Mary Anne Alcordo Solomon said.
Polio remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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