KARACHI, June 17: The Expanded Programme for Immunization, Sindh, has finalized all arrangements to vaccinate 4.2 million children under the age of five, belonging to Karachi, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Ghotki and three Talukas of Dadu district from June 18 to 20.

The EPI-Sindh sources, on Monday, said that the second phase of the envisaged “High-Risk Area Campaign Against Polio” would be launched from July 23 to 25.

The campaign was stated to have been initiated following reports of nine different cases of polio registered in the above- mentioned districts in the recent past. The three high-risk Talukas of Dadu district to be included in the exercise are Sehwan, Kotri and Dadu.

All under-five children pertaining to the high-risk districts will be immunized during the campaign, to efficiently address the instances of wild polio virus transmission during the month of June.

The month, due to its high and sizzling temperatures, was generally considered to be a benign season with regard to transmission of the virus. A humid and wet atmosphere was assumed as the most potent factors expediting its spread.

However, on basis of recent analysis following the unexpected eruption of cases in certain parts of high-risk areas, a campaign is being launched to preempt further possible surge.

EPI-Sindh authorities have appealed to the parents to realize the significance of supplementary immunization and cooperate with the vaccination teams in getting the target group of children vaccinated.

Since wild polio virus is spread through oral and fecal routes, public cooperation is all the more required for across- the-board immunization of all under-five children.

It may be mentioned that four cases of polio were registered in Ghotki alone, while two were reported from Karachi (one each from Gadap and North Karachi) and one each in Hyderabad, Jacobabad and Dadu.—APP