The Provincial Government of Bulacan is preparing for the implementation of an anti-polio drive in August after the Department of Health recently announced that it would resume the Synchronized Polio Immunization Campaign in Central Luzon dubbed as “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” in coordination with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The immunization schedule, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, will last August 3 to 16 for round one, phase two, in the whole Bulacan except the City of San Jose del Monte (July 20 to August 2). Round two is scheduled for September 7 to 20 for the whole Central Luzon. According to the Provincial Health Office, the Fully Immunized Children Accomplishment of Bulacan in 2019 was 62 percent, which was lower than the national target of 95 percent. “We have cascaded Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio to three cities and 21 municipalities in the province to prepare them for the immunization. We believe that by this we can meet the target, and because the vaccination will cover all children 0-59 months old regardless of immunization status in the community, all missed children in the past years will be addressed,” Gov. Daniel Fernando said. The campaign aims to boost immunization against polio by giving doses of Monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (mOPV2) to all children under five years of age and to ensure interruption of polio virus transmission, at least two successive rounds of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio will be done, each with an aim of at least 95 percent coverage to guarantee that no child is left behind.
