The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is now ready for the massive oral polio vaccination drive scheduled from 14-27 October in Metro Manila and select areas in Mindanao.

“Our target number for the children to be vaccinated is 30,000. PRC wants your children to be safe. Vaccines will keep away your children from diseases. It is the most effective way to prevent polio. Together, we can stop the spread of polio,” PRC chairman and chief executive officer Sen. Richard Gordon.

Support items for the mass vaccination activity like dossarts, masks, gloves, alcohol and vaccine carriers were already distributed to all PRC chapters in Metro Manila and selected areas in Mindanao. A Technical Training on Polio and Response Planning Workshop was also held recently as one of the preparations for the “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio.”

PRC has a master list of the children who will receive the vaccine. Once vaccinated, a record will be made to make sure that no child will miss the two remaining doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). These are planned to be administered between November 2019 to January of next year.

The synchronized OPV campaign is in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH) and with support from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Cross Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Meanwhile, the DoH issued an advisory to travelers entering the Philippines to be vaccinated in the wake of the reemergence of polio in the country.

In a statement, the Health department said foreign nationals and returning Filipinos of all ages who are intending to stay in the Philippines for four weeks or more are encouraged to receive a single dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) not later than four weeks before their scheduled travel to the Philippines.

“Given that the traveler has not received polio vaccination in the last 12 months, they should be vaccinated,” said the DoH.

“Travelers undertaking urgent travel within four weeks are recommended to receive a single dose of IPV at least by the time of departure as this will still provide benefits, particularly for frequent travelers,” it added.

The Health department also encouraged travelers leaving the Philippines to check immunization requirements of countries they are going to, and if required, receive a dose of IPV before departure and get a certificate from the Bureau of Quarantine to serve as proof of their vaccination.

On the other hand, the city government of Mandaluyong is targeting to have 36,000 children vaccinated against the dreaded polio disease.

Jimmy Isidro, chief of the Mandaluyong public information office, said the local government, through the city health office, will implement a week-long massive immunization campaign against polio to children aged 5 years old and below.

Isidro urged parents to bring their children to barangay health centers to get a shot of the oral polio vaccine and complete the types of vaccines against this infectious disease.

The Department of Health recently confirmed the reemergence of polio after nearly 19 years that the Philippines was declared polio-free since 2000. The Health department, however, said the country is currently at high-risk for polio virus transmission.