Polio immunisation: First IPV drive completed in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: Around 0.5 million children aged between four months to two years in Rawalpindi District were vaccinated in the first routine polio immunisation drive using inactivated polio vaccines (IPV). The drive took place from June 8 to 16.  According to District Health official Shamshad Ahmed, the drive was launched in 28 high risk union councils of Rawalpindi including four in the rural areas. It was a part of the routine immunisation process which is renewed every six months. “As per Punjab government’s plan, IPV will eventually over take oral polio vaccinations and as for now the injection is being administered only once to the target population,” Ahmed said. All paramedic staff will be trained on handling and storing the vaccines in the next step, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2015.