DOH to use injectable polio vaccine

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) will include injectable or inactivated anti-polio vaccine (IPV) in its expanded immunization campaign.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the move is expected to improve the protection of children against polio amid renewed threats of global outbreaks.

“The Philippines has been declared polio free but there is always the danger… We have a very mobile population and the Philippines is also an attractive place for visitors. The need for continuous protection is very important,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Philippines polio-free in 2000 after the last case was recorded in 1993.

In May, WHO said polio was observed to be spreading in endemic countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan to Somalia, Cameroon, Syria, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Iraq.

The DOH introduced IPV during a symbolic ceremony in Parañaque City, where vaccination coverage of up to 93 percent in 2013 was recorded.

Under the program, IPV will be given to children who are 14 weeks old at health centers as the third dose in addition to oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops for the first and second dose.

The DOH hopes to replace OPV with IPV in 2016.

Health Undersecretary Janette Garin said IPV protects against polio type 1 and 3 and outbreaks of wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. She said OPV is effective only against the wild poliovirus.

“OPV knocks out the virus and renders it comatose but there is a little possibility that it will be restored to life when a child discharges the virus through its waste. IPV, on the other hand, completely kills the virus,” Garin said.