To guard against the outbreak of the circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type two in Anambra State which the Federal Government says it has identified in thirteen states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the Anambra State Government has commenced the administration of the novel poliovirus vaccine to disrupt the spread of the virus in the State.
The vaccination which started yesterday Wednesday October 6, 2021 and ends on Saturday October 9, 2021 is targeted at children between ages zero to five.
The Vaccination campaign tagged outbreak response one is part of a national engagement to ensure that the progress recorded which led Nigeria to be declared wild polio virus free in 2019 is not lost following the outbreak of circulating vaccine derived Poliovirus Type two in the country.
The best way to stop the circulating vaccine derived Poliovirus Type two is through vaccination as it is caused by low Immunization rate.
Addressing the press on the commencement of the vaccination campaign, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala said that the State Government is committed to ensure that no child is missed in the vaccination as it meets the overall goal of interrupting the circulation of Vaccine derived Poliovirus and ensure that all children under five years in the state receive two drops of the novel oral polio vaccine.
Dr. Okpala also said that other Routine Immunization, RI, antigens will be administered to children under the age of two during the four-day campaign against vaccine preventable diseases to reduce the burden of other childhood killer diseases.
He revealed that both vaccinations targets to reach one-million-two-hundred and sixty-four-thousand-three-hundred-and-eighty-seven children who are under the age of five, out of which five-hundred-and-five-thousand-seven-hundred-and-fifty-four children are under the age of two.
Stating emphatically that all vaccines are free and safe, the Health Commissioner urged caregivers to avail themselves of this opportunity and make sure that their children receive the novel oral polio vaccine and other routine Immunization antigens.
In attendance during the joint press briefing to announce the commencement of the second dose of the phase two Covid-19 vaccination and outbreak response against polio in Anambra State were the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu and the State Coordinator, World Health Organization, Dr Chukwumuanya Igboekwu who stood in for all the partner agencies at the event.
Comments are closed for this post.