Lazatin, DOH to give free polio vaccine to AC kids

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Admin

ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. aims for a free-polio city, as the city government with the Department of Health (DOH) started a house-to-house administration of free polio vaccine to 6,918 kids, ages 0-4 years old, in city’s 33 barangays here on July 20, 2020.

Lazatin underscored that this is to ensure the welfare of Angeleño kids especially that children are susceptible to viruses and diseases.

The Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio (SPKP) was personally administered by Mayor Lazatin in barangays Virgen Delos Remedios where 34 kids received the free polio vaccine; Ninoy Aquino with 37 kids; and San Jose with 30 kids.

He was assisted by City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra, Nurse Supervisor Evelinda Mariano, Gender and Development Officer Mina Cabiles, and representatives from DOH, World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“We will administer a house-to-house vaccination to more than 50,000 kids in the city. I have instructed Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel to coordinate with the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) to conduct a survey in the city’s 33 barangays to identify kids who will be receiving the free polio vaccine,” Lazatin said.

The vaccination of other kids from city’s 33 barangays will follow suit, Lazatin added.

The city government targets to give polio vaccines to 50,000 kids from the city's 33 barangays.

“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, para po ito sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga batang Angeleño. Hinihikayat ko po ang mga magulang na pabakunahan niyo po ang inyong mga anak na may edad na 11 buwan hanggang 4 na taong gulang. Libre lang po ito,” Lazatin urged.

It can be recalled that in September, Mayor Lazatin distributed toilet bowls in Barangay Margot and Sapangbato for a zero open defecation program, as the city government’s campaign against polio also focused on cleanliness and proper hygiene.

“Let us help one another by raising awareness on how to safeguard our health and welfare,” Lazatin appealed.

According to WHO, “poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.”

Meanwhile, according to DOH, “polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the poliovirus. Almost all children (99 children out of 100) who get all the recommended doses of the inactivated polio vaccine will be protected from polio.”