Poliovirus: Immunisation drive under way in Swat

MINGORA:

Amid tight security, a polio drive is under way in Swat with the aim to vaccinate 0.4 million children against the crippling poliovirus.

Campaign in charge Dr Rahmat Elahi told the media on Tuesday that
1,224 teams have been formed to vaccinate children under the age of five in all 65 union councils of the district.

“The campaign is being conducted amid tight security and no obstacle has surfaced so far,” said  Dr Elahi.

He added parents were cooperating with the vaccination teams. Arrangements have also been made to vaccinate children at all bus stands and check posts, said Elahi. “Mobile teams are also administering the vaccine in public places, particularly markets where women go with their children.” More than 2,000 policemen have been posted with immunisation teams to provide security during the campaign.

In 2014, two polio cases were reported from Swat after a gap of about five years which prompted the district administration to conduct emergency immunisation drives to eradicate the virus
from Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.