In light of the increasing number of polio cases in the country, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco on Tuesday called on Navoteño parents to have their children vaccinated against the crippling and life-threatening disease.
“Our health workers are now doing the rounds to ensure that all our children are given protection against polio. I encourage parents to do their share in the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign and let their children be vaccinated,” Tiangco said.
“Polio is most dangerous for children below five years old and its virus can spread easily. As parents, we have a duty to prioritize the health and well-being of our children, that is why we must ensure that they are protected from this disease,” he added.
From October to December last year, health workers conducted house-to-house visits to administer bivalent vaccine or the oral polio vaccine types 1 and 3 (OPV1 and OPV3).
Records from the Navotas City Health Office showed that 99 percent of Navoteño children have received the said vaccine.
This year, from January 27 to February 9 and from February 24 to March 8, health workers will be giving oral polio vaccine type 2 (OPV2). This was after a 3-year-old in Quezon City showed signs of paralysis and tested positive for type 2 polio.
“Polio has no cure and only vaccines can help our children fight this disease. Let’s make sure our kids are safe from this illness so they could live their life to the fullest,” Tiangco said.