Immunisation: Polio vaccination campaign extended

MULTAN: A three-day polio vaccination campaign was extended by a day on Saturday to cover children missed earlier. DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal said a campaign from October 7 to October 9 had been but extended for one day for children whose parents had not allowed teams to administer the vaccine.

Health officials said 50 families had turned away polio teams. They said the teams had been sent to convince them to get the vaccine.

DCO Gondal also inaugurated a labour room and a laboratory at Model Town Hospital. Talking to newsmen on the occasion, he said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was among a few countries where polio had not been eradicated. He said polio workers should be lauded for their efforts. He said the parents should cooperate with them during vaccination drives.

District Health Officer Shahid Magsi said 1,930 teams of the Health Department had participated in the campaign. He said the teams had gone door-to-door to vaccinate the children under five years. He said teams had also visited schools, hospitals, dispensaries, bus stands and the railway station.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.