Polio vaccination advised for Filipinos traveling to Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos traveling to Indonesia and staying there for at least four weeks are advised to get polio immunization before entering that country.

In an updated advisory on Monday, the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia said that the Indonesian Port Health Offices would implement precautionary measures against vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) type 2.

The embassy said that starting Nov. 1, travelers from the Philippines entering and staying in Indonesia would need to have polio immunization.

The traveler must provide proof of immunization by presenting an international certificate of vaccination (ICV) or other acceptable documents, such as a medical or doctor’s certificate, among others.

Should they fail to present proof of immunization, the embassy said the port health office would provide vaccination and ICV for a fee of at least around $13.

Travelers who refuse vaccination risk being denied entry, the embassy added.

According to the embassy, howevever, polio vaccination is not required of travelers who do not plan to stay for at least four week in Indonesia.

Last September, the Department of Health confirmed the resurgence of the deadly infectious disease in the Philippines.

The first case was a three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur while the second case was a five-year-old boy from Laguna.

Just recently, the DOH also confirmed a third recorded case of polio — a four-year-old girl in Maguindanao.

READ: Third polio case in PH recorded in Maguindanao – DOH

/atm