10,000 refusal cases surface during immunisation drive in Hyderabad

290,168 children administered polio drops in drive which started on March 12

HYDERABAD:

More than 10,000 refusal cases have surfaced during the polio immunisation campaign in Hyderabad which started on March 12.

According to the statistics of the drive shared on Thursday by a health official, 87% of the targeted 333,946 children under five years of age were covered in the drive.

"We point out every case of refusal to the district administration for action. It is their responsibility to convince the refusing parents to allow immunisation of their children," a health official, requesting anonymity said.

Against the target, only 290,168 children were administered the polio drops. A majority of the left out children were not available. As many as 17,065 children in Latifabad, 15,345 in City, 6,855 in Qasimabad and 4,513 in Hyderabad rural talukas were left out in the campaign.

The largest number of refusal cases surfaced in City with 3,975 parents of 4,220 children opposing immunisation. Latifabad followed with 3975, Qasimabad with 1,348 and Hyderabad rural with 684 refusals.

The urgent polio drive was launched after the virus was found in a sample taken from Tulsidas drainage pumping station in Hyderabad. The strain, which was traced in the drain after a gap of two years, prompted the district administration to declare a red alert.