Close to two million Anambra children under the age of five are targeted to receive the novel oral polio vaccine type two against the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Vaccine, type two.
The vaccine which will be given in line with the Anambra State Government’s Outbreak Response campaign one, will commence on Saturday April nine and end on Wednesday April thirteenth, 2022.
Correspondent David Okpokwasili reports that one million, nine hundred and eighty-four thousand, seven hundred and three children between age zero and fifty-nine months will receive the novel oral polio vaccine, while out of the number, four hundred and seventy-four thousand, six hundred and nineteen children will receive the Routine Immunization Antigens which include the Inactivated Polio Vaccine, IPV according to the schedule.
Speaking during a press briefing in Awka, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu said that the Anambra State Government is fully committed to ensuring that no eligible child is left out in the state.
Dr Ezenyimulu underscored the importance of the vaccination exercise, stating that it is very important in sustaining the Wild Polio Virus free status of the country as the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus, type two can mutate and take on a form that can cause paralysis just like Wild Polio Virus, if its circulation is not intercepted with vaccination between a period of one year or a year and six months.
She encouraged mothers and caregivers to bring out their children who are within the age range irrespective of their previous status to receive the vaccine in order to ensure that they are protected against the virus and assured that the World Health Organization, and the Anambra State Government will provide adequate security to guarantee the safety of health workers in the seven security prone local government areas namely Ihiala, Nnewi South, Ayamelum, Anambra East and West, Ekwusigo and Oyi, so as to perform their duties seamlessly while extra-logistics support will be provided for those in Idemili North and Awka North respectively.
The Routine Immunization will be offered at designated Health facilities while the novel oral polio vaccine will be given at mobile posts such as mosques, schools, markets, motor parks, village squares, transit points, from house-to-house and wherever children may be found.
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