The three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur had received only one dose of oral polio vaccine and was unable to walk after being stricken by the virus. Still, by mid-December 2019, 44,000 measles cases had been reported nationwide, with up to 576 deaths related to measles recorded. This time it should be easier to persuade parents to have their children get the complete vaccination protocol against polio. While not all polio cases can lead to paralysis and milder forms can dissipate on their own, other cases can lead to permanent disability and even death. Even as everyone is busy confronting the COVID-19 threat, the country can’t let down its guard against polio.

Source: Philippine Star February 16, 2020 16:00 UTC