ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) polio vaccination certificate centre is efficiently working to facilitate those travelling abroad.
A few dozen people visit the centre every day to obtain a polio vaccination certificate, which is issued after administering the vaccine. The polio vaccination certificate is mandatory for Pakistanis travelling out of the country.
Sources at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination said over one million certificates have been handed over to the provinces, with an instruction to ensure that every person travelling abroad is vaccinated against polio.
They said that vaccination centres have been set up at all international airports while government hospitals are also issuing the certificates.
The relaxation extended to Pakistan by the World Health Organization (WHO) expired on June 1, 2014. After that, all Pakistanis travelling abroad are required to present a polio vaccination certificate at the time of departure.
The grace period was requested by the ministry which asked WHO to give Pakistan time to prepare for the vaccination regime before making it mandatory for all international travellers. Pakistan is among three countries where the crippling virus still exists. Around 90 people were affected last year while this year’s count stands at 119.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2014.
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