Due to the re-emergence of a poliovirus type 1 in the nearby Maluso, Basilan, the City Health Office (CHO) in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) will launch a massive anti-polio campaign dubbed “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” in the 98 barangays from January 6-12.

All children aged 10 years and below, regardless of immunization status will be vaccinated with bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV).

The weeklong activity will be simultaneous in Zamboanga City, Basilan including Isabele City, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Sultan and will be a combination of house-to-house, fixed post and special vaccination sessions. It is a rapid polio response immunization which is a critical action to guarantee high population immunity among under 10 years old children and protects the population from consequences of polio-virus recirculation.

In Zamboanga City, the CHO targets 205,507 children for the whole week with a daily target of 41,101 children.

Fixed posts will be set up at the KCC Mall, Citimall, Mc Donald San Jose, Mindanao Central Sanitarium, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Labuan Public Hospital, Zampen Hospital, Zamboanga Doctor’s Hospital, West Metro, Ciudad Medical Hospital, Airport, Port Area (seaport) and the Integrated Bus Terminal in Divisoria.

The January 6-12 schedule is the round 1 while round 2 and 3 will be on February 17-March 2  and March 23-April 4, simultaneously for the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV).

As this developed, Mayor Beng Climaco encourages parents and guardians to have their children ages 0-10 years old or 0-119 months, vaccinated against polio during the weeklong simultaneous anti-polio campaign.  

The CHO together with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) last week met with barangay officials from the 98 barangays to seek support and cooperation for the conduct of the simultaneous anti-polio campaign. (Sheila Covarrubias)