Special IPV polio campaign starts Dec 14

Punjab Polio Programme was all set to organise a special polio campaign using Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) in three districts of the province from December 14, said a spokesperson for the programme on Friday.

The campaign would be held in 113 selected union councils of Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, he added. “Seeing polio epidemiology, 87 UCs of Lahore have been made part of the campaign while 16 UCs of DG Khan and 10 UCs of Rajanpur have been included in the special campaign.

” Punjab had reported 14 polio cases in 2020 so far whereas in 2019 the provincial tally stood at 12. Out of the 26 polio cases in two years, 17 had been reported across the province this year of which Lahore had 7 cases, DG Khan reported nine and Rajanpur reported one case.

The prevalence of polio virus had also been proven in almost all polio environment sampling sites. The polio campaigns were halted from third week of March to mid-July. The halt allowed virus to spread in the province.

Punjab Polio Programme Head Sundas Irshad said IPV was given through an injection by a trained vaccinator at the designated health facility or health camp. "IPV together with the OPV is the best combination to boost immunity in the gut.”