As part of the ongoing campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) against the recent polio outbreak in the country, RITM served as one of the Polio Patak Corners for the DOH Synchronized OPV Vaccination “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” in the National Capital Region.

Last October 14 to 27, all children below 5 years old (0-59 months), regardless of vaccination status, received OPV vaccination at RITM. Specifically, the Polio Patak Corner at RITM aimed to provide OPV vaccines to children 0-59 months old consulting RITM patients for animal bite or follow-up OPD visits. The Polio Patak Corner at RITM was also open during weekends and holidays during the above mentioned schedule.

On October 9, 2019, DOH released a memorandum on the Establishment of Polio Patak Corners in the country. The campaign aims to boost immunization coverage against polio by giving three doses of the oral polio vaccine to all children five years old and below, regardless of their immunization status. The schedule of the nationwide synchronized OPV vaccination are as follows:

• October 12-27, 2019 : NCR, Lanao Del Sur, Marawi City, Davao City, Davao Del Sur
• November 25-December 7: NCR, All Mindanao
• January 6-18: All Mindanao

At the same time, all frontline healthcare workers at RITM received one dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) from October 14 to 25, in coordination with the Employees Health Services and the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.

A polio outbreak was declared by DOH in September 19, nineteen years after the country was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2000. 

by Ma. Patricia Lansang, Project Evaluation Officer II, Communication and Engagement Office