Preventive measures: IPV and OPV campaigns begin in FATA, Sindh

ISLAMABAD: Small-scale special oral and injectable polio vaccination campaigns began in selected areas of Fata and Sindh on Monday in response to virus detection in Multan and Quetta.

Twelve per cent of the samples from Multan and Quetta were found positive. Throughout this year, so far no case has been reported but the transportation of the virus is in progress due to the mobilisation of the population.

The campaign will target areas where the virus has been found and the districts surrounding it. It aims to fill the immunity gaps in areas where children either did not receive doses or have low immunity levels.

The campaign started on Monday in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Toba Tek Singh and Lodhran, targeting 1,872,496 under-five children.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2017.