AS the polio outbreak declared in September 2019 remains uncontrolled and there is a “predicted” measles outbreak in 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) will conduct a nationwide measles, rubella and polio supplemental immunization activity starting this month.
“To date we have 27 polio infections . . . We have not controlled the polio outbreak that was declared in September 2019,” said National Immunization Program Manager Dr. Wilda Silva at a DOH media forum as she also warned of a possible measles outbreak next year if no intervention is done.
“We don’t want to respond to an outbreak but we want to prevent the outbreak, thus the supplemental immunization activity,” Silva emphasized.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, stressed the need for a high-quality immunization activity to avert a possible measles outbreak in 2021 and halt polio’s resurgence in some communities.
“We encourage parents and caregivers to have their children immunized,” Duque said, emphasizing that the measles, rubella and polio vaccines are safe, effective and free.
The DOH and the local government units will conduct the supplemental immunization campaign on October 26.
The nationwide Measles-Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization (MR-OPV SIA) Activity will be rolled out in two phases.
Phase 1 is from October 26 to November 25 in Mindanao Regions, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, MIMAROPA Region, and Bicol Region.
Phase 2 is in February 2021 in Visayas Regions, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Children 9-59 months old will be given Measles-Rubella vaccine while 0-59 months old will be provided with oral Polio vaccine.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is ready to give the children needed protection of through free vaccination. “Vaccination is the biggest defense of children against transmittable disease and serious illness that may lead to disability or death,” Vergeire said.
In order to be protected against Covid-19 infections, Duque assured that all healthcare workers have been trained on infection prevention and control and provided with Personal Protective Equipment.
In the Philippines, an estimated 2.4-million children under the age of five are susceptible for measles. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world.
About 9 out of 10 people exposed to the measles virus who are not immune will contract the disease. It can cause high-grade fever, rashes, cough, eye infection and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, blindness, severe diarrhea, and swelling of the brain.
Polio is a potentially debilitating disease that causes fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness and can eventually lead to lifelong paralysis.
There is an ongoing outbreak of polio with cases reported from Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance and presence of environmental samples with poliovirus. If severe enough, both diseases can ultimately lead to death. There is no specific treatment for these illnesses and the DOH stressed the only reliable protection is through vaccination.
Image credits: PRC