‘We are 100 percent done’: All children 59 months below in Maguindanao get polio vaccine

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao—-All 195,065 children in Maguindanao aged 59 months and below have been vaccinated for polio as health officials stepped up efforts to prevent new polio cases in the province.

“We are 100 percent done,” Dr. Elizabeth Samama, Maguindanao health chief, told the Inquirer.

The two-week vaccination drive ended last Feb. 2, covering all of Maguidanao’s 36 towns.

“All the parents have cooperated, many came forward to have their children receive anti-polio drops,” Samama said.

“Parents’ role is vital in the fight against polio,” Samama added.

Last January, some 4,000 children in Maguindanao were not immunized due to the refusal of their parents to have anti-polio shots administered on them.

The slide in the vaccination performance has worried local health authorities as seven children were confirmed to have been afflicted
with polio in the province.

The polio cases were found in the towns of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Rajah Buayan, Datu Piang, Datu Hofer, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Abdullah Sangki and Datu Anggal Midtimbang.

“That is why we were very aggressive in the just concluded vaccination drive,” Samama said.

To ensure bigger coverage, Samama tapped the Army and police in administering anti-polio drops to children who were traveling with their parents, transforming checkpoints into vaccination centers.

During the two-week health campaign, police and soldiers stopped and inspected vehicles carrying children aged 59 months and below, explained to their parents the importance of the vaccine, and gave them anti-polio shots.

Samama said health officials were hoping no new polio case will arise in Maguindanao.

With the anti-polio vaccination done, Samama said health workers are now preparing to conduct a massive information campaign about the 2019 novel coronavirus.

“We take a pro-active stance, we are educating our people on prevention of this deadly disease,” she said.

Edited by TSB