Even with the high turnout of children immunized with an anti-polio vaccine, the Davao City government has extended the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio to December 17, Friday in all health centers, and some malls.

The extension of the immunization drive allows parents to bring their children who did not receive the immunization between November 25 and December 7 – the two weeks when the city government launched the second phase of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.

The City Health Office (CHO) on Wednesday reported that Davao City covered a total of 196,165 children or 104. 98 percent during the 2 weeks of the anti-polio immunization drive.

The number was more than the target of 186,864 children due to the strategy of the CHO teams to immunize those children who were just in the city for a vacation.

CHO chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said the second phase of the immunization was to end on December 7, but it was extended until December 13.

Villafuerte said the DOH (Department of Health) ordered the extension to accommodate more children who did not receive the second phase of the vaccine yet.

“There are some regions that have not yet reached their 95 percent quota so the DOH extended the immunization,” Villafuerte added.

During the first phase of the immunization, the city had a total coverage of 185,186 or 99.48 percent.

Villafuerte said the third phase of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio will be on January 6 to 18, 2020. CIO