Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Davao City government is completing the five rounds of the âSabayang Patak Kontra Polioâ for over 186,864 children by August 2, 2020.
In the first week of the fifth and final round from July 20, the city government through the City Health Office (CHO) already given 174,082 children with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) or 93.16 percent of the cityâs target.
âAbi namo og daghan kayo ang dili magpabakuna because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pero as the accomplishment coverage shows, taas kaayo ang accomplishment (We thought many would not avail of the vaccine because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But as the accomplishment coverage shows, we accomplished a lot),â said Dr. Julinda Acosta, the head of the Technical Division of CHO.
Since July 20, the CHO recorded 60,555 children from District 1 who were immunized; 60,591 from District 2; and 52, 936 from District 3.
CHO has been conducting a house to house immunization to ensure that strict health protocols against Covid-19 are still observed.
âWe conducted a re-orientation with our staff and barangay captains to ensure that the vaccination will be implemented safely between the parents and the child and the health workers,â Acosta said.
Health workers were provided with personal protective equipment (PPEs), face shield, face mask, and sanitizing hand rubs.
Acosta is hopeful that the city will reach its target 186,864 children before August 2.
âBarangay captains from some poblacion areas raised that some children are not around and are in other provinces due to the pandemic. But we are still hopeful that we will reach at least 95 percent in these areas,â she added.
In the first round, CHO teams were able to immunize 99.48 percent of the targetted number of children; 105.11 percent in the second round; 108.87 percent in the third round; and, 104.57 percent in the fourth round.
Acosta has called on all parents to have their children ages 5 years and below to avail of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OVP) since this is the final round of vaccination. CIO
