On September 23, 2019, the Philippine Society of Physicians (PCP) and the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) released a joint statement on polio disease awareness and prevention campaign for healthcare practitioners.

The statement does not “routinely recommend” oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) for adults. Vaccination in adults is only recommended when there is a “higher risk of exposure such as those who will travel to endemic areas, those with occupational exposure, and those with close contact to persons likely or suspected to have been infected with the poliovirus.”

Adults “at increased risk of exposure and [who] has never been vaccinated against polio” are also recommended to “receive 3 doses of IPV–the first two doses given 1-2 months apart and the third dose 6-12 months after the second” or, “in situations where time will not allow the completion of this schedule, a more accelerated schedule is possible (e.g. each dose separated 4 weeks from the previous dose).”

The statement also mentions that “if an adult at risk has previously received polio vaccine, but only 1-2 doses of [the] polio vaccine [was given], the adult should receive the remaining dose(s) of IPV, regardless of the interval since the lase dose.”

Moreover, “an adult at increased risk who has previously completed a primary course of polio vaccine (3 or more doses) … may have the option tot receive 1 dose of IPV to ensure protection.”

The statement also recommends improved environmental sanitation, hand hygiene, clean source of water, and active surveillance by the Department of Health.

To read the complete joint statement, please click here.

Dr. Geraldine Zamora received the 2019 The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award for Health. Dr. Zamora is an internist, rheumatologist, and professor at the University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital.

In 2010, Dr. Zamora was awarded by the PCP as the Most Outstanding Resident in Internal Medicine (MORIM) for her outstanding performance on service, research, and leadership in Internal Medicine during residency training. Past winners of this award were Dr.Henry Marquez, Dr. Melvin Marcial, Dr. Jubert Benedicto, Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, and Dr. Mark Anthony Sandoval. The search for the 2020 PCP MORIM is ongoing (please click here).

TOWNS Awards is presented to outstanding Filipino women aged 21-50 years old who have contributed positively to strengthening national capability and shaping the nation’s future. Other 2019 TOWNS Awardees are Samira Gutoc (Peace Advocacy), Patricia Ann Prodigalidad (Law), Gay Jane Perez (Science & Technology) among others.

Dr. Zamora also received the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2016.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 PCP Exemplar Awards for the following categories: Distinguished Researcher, Distinguished Internist, Distinguished Teacher, Distinguished Community Leader, and Distinguished Healthcare Advocate. Started in 1979, The PCP Exemplar Awards recognizes exemplary PCP members who have demonstrated excellence in the specific fields.  the Previous winners include Dr. Ernesto Domingo, Dr. Ramon Abarquez, Dr. Antonio Dans, Dr. Esperanza Cabral, among others.

            Any PCP fellow, diplomate, chapter, accredited training institution, component subspecialty, or affiliate society may nominate.  The nomination closes on November 30, 2019. The winners will be awarded during the PCP Annual Convention in May 2020. To nominate, please visit here.

Internal Medicine residents of Makati Medical Center (MMC) beat four other teams from UP Philippine General Hospital, Ospital ng Makati, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and The Medical City last October 14, 2019 at the Veterans Medical Memorial Center for the elimination round of the Dr. Adrian C. Pena PCP-Upjohn Medical Quiz Contest.

Elimination rounds in other regions will run from October 2019 until March 2020. Winners of the elimination rounds will compete at the Grand Finals on May 4, 2020 at the Conrad Hotel, Pasay City.