Crippling virus: Injectable vaccine to be introduced in anti-polio drive

GAVI approves $10 million for Injectible Polio Vaccines for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to introduce injectable polio vaccine (IPV) in its routine immunisation programme across the country in July this year. It is estimated that 6.2 million children across the country will be injected polio vaccine at the age of 14 weeks along with oral polio vaccine (OPV) and shots of pentavalent-III and Pneumococcal-III vaccine.

IPV has already been introduced for polio campaigns in high-risk areas of Balochistan, Federal Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) and Karachi but now will be made a part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).



Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official in the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) on the condition of anonymity said that Pakistan is going to introduce IPV in assistance with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).

“Pakistan was short of funds therefore requested GAVI to finance the entire IPV initiative,” said the official. GAVI approved $10 million out of the $18 million amount committed, said the official, adding that $4 million have been reimburse so far for the IPV in Pakistan. Moreover Pakistan also receives another $10 million as the Vaccine Introduction Grant by GAVI, said the official.

“Now Pakistan is left with six weeks to make necessary preparations for the introduction of IPV across the country such as proper handling of IPV, maintenance of cold chain among others criteria and satisfying its international donor agencies to receive the certificate to start it ,” said the official. In this regard last week the federal EPI started training of the trainers (ToT) to administer the IPV to children.

When contacted Dr Rana Safdar, in-charge of the National Emergency Operation Cell (NEOC) on Polio, said the introduction of IPV in the EPI would help Pakistan boost immunity levels of children. However, OPV and IPV will go alone as both are important for children, he said. “IPV will help to boost the immunity level of children and OPV will help to curtail its spread to others.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.