(Eagle News)–Those traveling to the Philippines are urged to have themselves vaccinated against polio to ensure their protection.
The Department of Health made the recommendation in light of the government’s declaration of a polio epidemic in September, after two cases were confirmed and environmental samples taken from the sewage of Manila yielded positive results for VDPV Type 1 for two consecutive months.
In an advisory, the DOH said foreign nationals and returning Filipinos of all ages who intend to stay in the Philippines for four weeks or more are urged to take a single dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine not later than four weeks before their scheduled travel to the country if the traveler has not received polio vaccination in the last 12 months.
Those undertaking urgent travel within four weeks, the DOH said, are urged to receive a single dose of IPV at least by the time of departure.
“The Philippine Department of Health, as the lead agency mandated to ensure the health of all its citizens and visitors, hereby recommends the following measures to provide protection and assurance to all concerned,” the DOH said.