Three-year-old polio victim in QC had vaccination shots —DOH

The three-year-old boy who was diagnosed with polio in Quezon City was given vaccination shots against the disease, the Department of Health said on Friday.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Eric Domingo told GMA News that the child—the first confirmed polio case in Metro Manila since the DOH declared an outbreak in September 2019—was vaccinated against polio types 1, 2, and 3.

Domingo said the patient may not have developed an immunity to polio because of his poor health.

“Actually, yung bata fully-vaccinated siya doon sa kanilang center simula noong 2016. At kahit yung extra patak natin, natatanggap niya. Naka-two rounds siya," Domingo said.

"Kaya lang ang reports natin, yung child talaga is immuno compromised. Mahina yung kanyang katawan. Marami siyang ibang sakit,” he added.

Domingo said this was the reason why all children below five years old must be vaccinated against polio.

“Kasi may mga bata na immuno compromised. Pag lahat kasi ng bata nabakunahan, then pati yung circulating virus sa environment, natatanggal natin,” Domingo said.

So far, the DOH has reported 16 polio cases in the country.

The number does not include Filipinos in Sabah who have reportedly contracted the disease.

The DOH advises parents to immediately bring their children to the hospital if they exhibit sudden weakness.

“Mino-monitor natin yung acute flaccid paralysis o yung biglang panghihina ng lower part ng katawan ng mga bata. Flaccid meaning talagang malambot, parang lupaypay," Domingo said.

"Marami kasing possible causes yon. Puwedeng neurologic, puwedeng metabolic, puwedeng mga ibang kulang lamang sa katawan. But one possible cause would be polio,” he added.

The DOH is scheduled to conduct another round of polio vaccination in Metro Manila from January 27 to February 7, and from February 24 to March 8. —NB, GMA News