Department of Health (DOH) officials assured parents and guardians of “nothing to fear” during the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio continued vaccination that rolled off this morning July 10 to run until August 02 for children of zero-to-59-month young.
Attending the regional launch of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio held in Tagum City, DOH Assistant Secretary, Dr. Roy Ferrer assured the public of the hygienic way of administering polio vaccine drops by health workers whom he said, “are strictly observing health protocols” in the midst of COVID-19 infection.
“Safe ni atong pagabuhaton alang sa Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio. (The Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio that we are doing is safe),” he said while making it clear that health workers follow the strict standards of wearing facemask and face shield, hand sanitizing and physical distancing.
He also assured that the vaccine being used is safe to fight polio which is causing physical disability and paralyzing effect on children.
“Proteksyonan ang mga bata ug mga anak ninyo kontra polio, ‘Safe’ ni!’ (Protect your child from polio; this is safe!)” he said putting emphasis on safe polio vaccination the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is pushing worldwide to continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the same event held at Barangay Magugpo South Health Station, DOH XI Regional Director, Dr. Annabelle Yumang reiterated the message of Dr. Ferrer, giving emphasis on the safety of the vaccine and the manner through which it is administered by deployed health workers.
Wearing facemask and face shield, the health workers make sure that they sanitize hands before proceeding to the next house of a target child. They won’t enter the house but request the mother or the guardian to bring the child outside. With facemask on, the mother or guardian will be the only one to hold the child while the health worker drops the polio vaccine without necessarily holding any part of the child’s body.
“Dugay-dugay siya before maka-adto sa sunod nga bata apan gisiguro nato nga ang atong pagbakuna makalikay kita sa sakit, sa pandemia nga COVID-19. (They would take time before moving on to the next child but we are making sure that we are spared from the pandemic, the COVID-19),” she said.
Yumang lauded the City Government of Tagum and City Mayor Allan Rellon who acknowledged in his talk that polio vaccination campaign crucially needs wide network of support of all stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
Bannering the global campaign to “End Polio Now”, leaders of the local chapters of the Rotary Club International were among those present as major supporters of the latest round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.
Also present during the event, the Kiwanis International handed over face shields against covid-19 infection while the Rotary Club of Tagum Golden LACES (Ladies in Action for Committed and Effective Services) donated sanitizing substance and facemasks for the health workers deployed for polio vaccination. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)