Polio vaccination drive to start from November 31 in Rawalpindi
The district administration has decided to launch a polio vaccination drive after recovery of wild poliovirus traces in environmental samples of Rawalpindi in September.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwarul Haq on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the arrangements for anti-polio drive.
He directed to make the training of polio workers more effective for the five-day polio campaign to be kicked-off in Rawalpindi district from November 31.
All Assistant Commissioners (ACs) were issued directions to monitor the training sessions.
DC said that the environmental sample of poliovirus in September has come positive. Therefore, he stressed that the polio workers should ensure that no child aged below five years was left from the administration of polio drops.
He warned that there would strict action against workers found in dereliction of duty as those showing negligence in the administration of drops were more dangerous than those who refuse it.
Haq said that the polio vaccine was completely safe and effective and had been endorsed by international organisations.
Further, the participants were informed that as many 8.75 million children aged below five years would be immunised against the virus.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2020.