Anti-polio drive begins from Oct 24 in Sindh

• Over 6.5 million children under five will be vaccinated from  24  to  October 30, 2022.
• The decision was taken by the provincial task force on the anti-polio drive meeting chaired by Health Minister Azra Pechuho.
• Sindh has not reported any polio cases in the last two years.

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to launch a week-long anti-polio campaign to vaccinate over 6.5 million children under five from October 24 and continue till the October 30, 2022.

The decision was taken by the provincial task force on the anti-polio drive meeting chaired by Health Minister Azra Pechuho and was also attended by divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, World Health Organization (WHO) representatives, and others.

Health Minister Azra Fazl Pechuhu directed officials to prepare a separate micro plan for children taking shelter at flood relief camps.

She also directed the entire polio team to ensure an immunization drive in flood-hit areas of Sindh.

Children in IDP camps, similarly, must be focused upon and it has to be ensured that they are vaccinated against polio, Dr. Azra Pechuho said. All transport that is arriving into the province should be monitored and children of vaccinated age should be covered and administered the polio vaccine.

In the winter there is an influx of travelers who arrive in Sindh so all entry ports should be monitored, she said.

The meeting was informed that in 2020 there were 11 environmental samples of polio found and in 2022 so far there have been 20 cases of polio identified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sindh has not reported any polio cases in the last two years.

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The meeting was also informed that 5,314 children in Karachi routinely refuse the polio vaccine and special focus must be given to these refusal cases. Parents who refuse the polio vaccine for their children will be persuaded as to its necessity and benefit.