Polio vaccination drive to begin on Saturday

As many as 9.2 million children under the age of five years, in all 29 districts of the province, are to be administered the oral polio vaccination in a campaign conducted by the Sindh Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio from August 15 to August 20.

Moreover, 8.3 million children will also be given Vitamin A drops to boost their immunity during the door-to-door drive.

“As I wish everyone a happy Independence Day, I must highlight what we need to do to ensure a healthy future for the children of Pakistan,” said Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho in a statement.

She said that since the beginning of the year, 64 polio cases had been reported in the country, with 21 in Sindh.

She claimed that though Sindh had carried out successful campaigns from December, 2019, to March, the coronavirus outbreak had disrupted the anti-polio drives as well as routine immunisation. “It left an immunity gap, which must immediately be addressed.”

According to the Sindh EOC spokesperson, the upcoming drive will use precautionary measures, following the WHO’s guidelines regarding Covid-19.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2020.