TAXILA: Around 300,000 children up to the age of five years will be administered polio vaccine drops across Attock district during a five-day campaign, being launched from March 29.

The polio vaccination campaign should be conducted under strict preventive measures, Deputy Commissioner Ali Anan Qamar said while chairing a meeting.

Chief Executive Officer (Health) Dr Jawad Elahi, assistant commissioners, DDHOs of six tehsils, vaccination superintendent, in-charge polio control room and representatives from World Health Organisation (WHO) were also present.

He said a no-touch method should be adopted for vaccination. Health department teams must ensure that polio vaccine drops are administered to all children between the ages of one to five and parents must cooperate with teams to make the campaign a success, he said.

According to health officials, 1,100 teams have been constituted that will be present at all entry and exit points of the city, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and health centres.

They said 100 fixed teams and 35 transit teams have been constituted. WHO officials said that Punjab reported 14 polio cases in 2020.

Mr Qamar said adequate security measures have been adopted by the government to protect polio workers who would visit door-to-door to achieve their target.

He said a large number of police officials were providing security to teams.

Sources in the health department said the campaign was launched on the directives of provincial authorities after a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) case emerged in the district on July 12 last year.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2021