A total of 57,737 children received the Oral Polio Virus (OPV) during the first day of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio in Davao City on Monday.
This was reported by the head of the City Health Office (CHO), Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, who said that the total number represents 30.9 percent of the total target at 100 percent for the second phase.
Villafuerte reiterated that the second phase is important for continuity because the children who received the first immunization need three more to fully flush out the virus in the system.
“We still have the same target of children that was covered in our first round of immunization last October 27 plus the other children who did not avail the vaccines,” she said.
To achieve the target, Villafuerte said all areas were and will be covered by their team to ensure that all children will receive the OPV.
She said CHO teams composed of health professionals were deployed malls, health centers, villages, and even churches to reach out to the public.
“Those living in gated subdivisions will no longer be a problem since they allow us to enter their residences at a certain time. Also, private pediatricians are in coordination with us,” she said.
Villafuerte said the CHO personnel are also stationed at the checkpoints in Sirawan, Lacson, and Bunawan checkpoints.
“We placed our personnel at the checkpoint areas to ensure that those who will be coming in and out of the city will be covered. We also have our team placed in terminals,” she said.
During the first round of vaccination, the CHO covered 99.48 percent of children in the city.
The Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio was rolled out after type 2 poliovirus was present in the water sample taken from the Davao River in August. CIO
