CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) extended the first phase of its polio immunization program to reach more children in four areas in Central Luzon.
Its “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” would continue in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces, and Angeles and San Jose del Monte cities after the agency failed to meet at least 95 percent of its target.
The first dose of the polio vaccine was given to 326,721 of 406,362 children below 5 years old from July 2 to Aug. 6.
The Luzon lockdown and the parents’ fear of bringing their children to health centers due to the coronavirus prevented the DOH from meeting its target, health officials said.
The second phase, scheduled from Aug. 3 to 16, targets to cover 940,643 children in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales provinces.
—Tonette Orejas