A total of 3,288 children received oral polio vaccines during the “Chikiting Ligtas Campaign” kick-off of the Department of Health’s bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine-Supplemental Immunization Activity (OPV-SIA) in Malabon City on Monday and Tuesday, April 15 to 16.
The campaign was held at St. Gregory Homes in Barangay Panghulo, Malabon City.
Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval led the ceremonial “patak” (drop) of the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) to the infants.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that polio is an infectious disease caused by poliovirus but it can be prevented with vaccines. It mainly affects children under five years of age by attacking the nervous system which can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis or death.
According to the City Health Department (CHD) officer-in-charge Dr. Bernadette Bordador, the OPV-SIA will be held in different venues in the city including barangay health centers, Fisher Mall-Malabon, Robinson’s Mall, and Malabon City Square until May 15.
She added that city health workers will also conduct door-to-door administration of OPVs.
Earlier this month, the CHD conducted an orientation and workshop to nurses, midwives, dentists and encoders to ensure the effective implementation of the program in the city.
“Ang mga bakuna ay subok na nagbibigay proteksyon laban sa mga sakit, kaya naman gawin nating ligtas ang ating mga chikiting laban sa Polio (Vaccines are proven to provide protection against diseases, so let's make sure our children are safe from Polio),” Bordador said.
In addition to administering OPVs, the CHD also conducted a catch-up vaccination for children zero to 23 months old, children who have missed receiving vaccines against vaccine-preventable diseases such as pertussis, tuberculous meningitis, diphtheria, measles, rubella, and hepatitis B.
There were 517 children who received vaccines against these diseases during the first day of the program, the PIO said.
Sandoval encouraged the parents to bring their children to get the vaccines.
“Libre, ligtas, at epektibo ang mga bakunang ito. Kaya naman mga parents, halina't pabakunahan ang inyong mga anak upang masiguro ang kanilang kaligtasan (These vaccines are free, safe, and effective. Parents, let's vaccinate our children to ensure their safety),” she said.
Philippine Red Cross-Malabon Chapter Chairman Ricky Sandoval and members of the Malabon-Navotas Medical Society, San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, City Health Department (CHD), City Social Welfare and Health Development (CSWDD), City Urban Poor Affairs Office (CUPAO), attended the event.