DOH to OFWs: Host countries may require polio vaccine

While the Department of Health (DOH) has imposed no travel restrictions on Filipinos leaving the country, it “strongly advised” them to ensure that they are protected against polio.

In an advisory on Thursday, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo urged those going abroad, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), to check the immunization requirements of their country of destination.

Domingo said the Bureau of Quarantine  can administer a dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) with a corresponding certificate of vaccination  as required by the host country prior to departure.

They may visit https://www.who.int/ith/ith-country-list.pdf for the vaccination requirements of different countries.

The DOH also encouraged foreigners and returning Filipinos who plan to stay in the country for at least four weeks, to have themselves inoculated with IPV no later than a month prior to their trip to the Philippines, or at the very least, “at the time of departure.”