Poliovirus challenge: Over 1,800 parents turned away vaccinators in Pindi

Samples collected from four locations in the city ahead of next month’s immunisation drive

RAWALPINDI: With environmental samples repeatedly testing positive for the poliovirus, vaccinators and the government have been unable to break down a small group of people who have consistently refused to allow vaccinators to immunize their children against the crippling disease.

Over the past five campaigns anti-polio in the city, as many as 1,832 parents have turned away the vaccinators who called on their doors.

The health department, though, claims to have made some progress in convincing these parents to change their mind with the number of refusal cases dropping steadily but have not been completely eliminated.

During the anti-polio campaign in June, 469 parents, 411 in July, 381 in August, 351 in September and 220 in November, refused polio drops.

Rawalpindi District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Khalid Mehmood says that most of the refusal cases come from parents of children who have come to the district from other parts of the country.

However, he said that they have deputed vaccinators at the entry and exit points to the city who hope to catch some of these children and vaccinate them.

Samples collected

Meanwhile, the health care department has started collecting environmental samples from sewers of Rawalpindi ahead of next month’s anti-polio drive.

Environmental samples have been collected from the Nullah Leh at four locations in Rawalpindi including Pir Wadhai, Marir Hassan, Dhoke Ratta and Dhoke Khabba. These are the same locations which have tested positive for the virus in the past.

According to an Independent Monitoring Board report, of the 511 samples collected across Pakistan so far this year (until October 22), around 17 per cent had tested as positive for the wild poliovirus.

“This his percentage has not changed since this time last year,” the quarterly report noted.

It added that the places were the most positive samples was collected were Karachi (21) and Peshawar (15). The numbers there, though, are down from last year, indicating a reduction in intensity of transmission. However, the corresponding period has seen the addition of five collection sites, which had been clear of the virus by this point in 2017, are now infected. This is increased geographical spread. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2018.