In line with the celebration of the World Polio Day on October 24, advocates are calling for the continuous polio vaccination for children, amidst the Philippines being declared as “polio free” by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015.
Dr. Mae Dolendo, Pediatric Oncologist at the South Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and past Rotary Club (RC) Walingwaling Davao president, expressed concern over the low compliance on polio vaccination.
She cited the Dengvaxia controversy that exploded late November last year prompted some parents to be hesitant to have their children vaccinated.
“This is a bothering situation. Almost all governments around the world had already invested in the polio campaign,” Dolendo expressed during the Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference on Monday at SM City Davao.
She also said that there is a need for vaccination, considering polio until now is incurable
“There should be a continuous vaccination for children, so that cases of polio will not surge again,” Dolendo said.
She also said that there have been reported endemic polio cases in war conflicted areas such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, according to WHO.
An estimate of 200,000 new diagnosed cases are expected each within ten years all over the world once intensifying vaccinations would be complacent.
Meanwhile, RC Walingwaling Davao president Marilou Baarde allayed fears that there is a possibility that the polio virus could mutate and be more aggressive.
She encouraged parents to have their children vaccinated, not only for polio but also for also available vaccinations.
“It is the children who will be the victim after all, if we do not give them the vaccination that they need,” She added,”Because we do not want to see them suffering polio.”
The campaign to end polio was inspired in the Philippines, as Rotary administered the first drop of the oral polio vaccine in Makati back in 1979.
The success of the campaign had inspired a worldwide advocacy, immunizing 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. There has been a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since the advocacy began.
To sustain the campaign, RC will conduct its “One Rotary. One End Polio Advocacy Walk” fund-raising activity on October 24.
Proceeds of the fun walk will be given to the Rotary End Polio fund to help buy vaccines, transport and administer at risk areas.
