Since the polio outbreak in the country has been contained through vaccination, there is no reason why the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cannot be stopped from spreading, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Monday, June 14.
It cited the polio outbreak containment as reference to encourage more Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Through Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, the CHR said the containment of polio outbreak has proven that vaccines are effective and the key to end and contain the spread of diseases.
"The success story of the swift end and containment of the poliovirus is commendable and an overwhelmingly positive development in our country’s health situation," De Guia said.
"Now more than ever, the end of the polio outbreak in the Philippines gives ample proof on the effectivity of vaccines and collective action in preventing, containing, and ultimately ending disease outbreaks," she stressed.
The Department of Health (DOH) announced the end of the polio outbreak last June 11 or almost two years since its resurgence on Sept. 19, 2019.
The CHR commended the DOH and other partner agencies in swiftly acting against the polio disease by implementing several rounds of supplemental immunization campaigns that reached 87.3 percent of the target population.
De Guia said the CHR expressed its hopes that the success in polio outbreak containment can be had against COVID-19 in the next few months. While people are getting inoculated or are waiting for their turn to get the jab, the CHR is reminding the public to continue exercising vigilance against the virus, she said.
De Guia also said: "We continue to urge individuals to yet again register and get their full vaccine doses. The Commission also hopes that parents will consider and register their children to be inoculated against COVID-19 when the Emergency Use Authorization for child vaccination is approved."