After being polio free for nearly two decades, polio has returned to the Philippines. Two cases were identified last month. Now, the nation is trying to vaccinate more than a million children below the age of five. If you or anyone in your household (especially your domestic helper) is due to travel to the Philippines soon, it is advisable to check their immunisation status. If you are unsure, a booster may be advised.

Polio has no cure. It can cause paralysis, and at one point, it paralyzed more than 350,000 people annually, according to the World Health Organisation. That was before the creation of a global, polio vaccine initiative.

In response to the outbreak there is currently a massive polio vaccine campaign in the Philippines, with people going door-to-door giving children droplets of the oral vaccine.

If you would like to arrange a vaccination for yourself or someone in your household please contact International Medical Clinic.

International Medical Clinic has four clinics (IMC Camden, IMC Children’s, IMC Jelita and IMC Katong) To book an appointment please click here or visit www.imc-healthcare.com or call 6733 4440. imc-healthcare.com