Parents refusing to be vaccinated against polio do not face police cases – Pakistan



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ISLAMABAD: The National Polio Program has decided not to register complaints against police refusing to vaccinate their children to the police, which could seriously affect the polio eradication campaign launched Monday in the country. central areas.

"About 50,000 or 10 percent of the refusals are expected in the districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan because of this easing. We deliberately decided to relax past practices in three districts to find the exact number of refusals. However, there will be a zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior with polio teams and strict measures will be taken if someone abuses or insults team members, "said Babar bin Atta, a spokesperson for the team. Prime Minister's speech on polio while talking to Dawn.

He said the vaccination could not be forced but had to be done in agreement with the parents.

"There are about 500,000 children under five in three districts. Polio teams were asked to note the refusals and to insist on vaccination. However, after the polio campaign, a refusal catch-up campaign would be organized to convince parents that the vaccine was in the best interests of their children, "said Atta.

"Unfortunately, the parents kept some markers at home and they marked the fingers of their children from the first day of the campaigns. We want to convince parents that vaccination is in the best interest of their children, "he said.

According to a statement from the National Center for Emergency Operations, the polio vaccination campaign aims to protect more than 12.25 million children in 45 districts from the disabling disease virus. During this special campaign, thousands of front-line workers will go door-to-door to ensure that children receive two drops of vaccine.

According to a target set for the campaign, 5.53 million children would be vaccinated in Sindh, 4.31 million in Punjab, 1.32 million in Baluchistan and 1.1 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The campaign would be held in 16 districts in Sindh, 13 in Baluchistan, 9 in KP and 7 in Punjab.

During the current year, 23 cases of wild poliovirus were reported in the country, including seven from Bannu District, one from Hangu, Dera Ismail Khan and Shangla from KP, three cases from Mir Ali, two from Miramshah and one of Khyber. and Bajaur, two from Karachi, one from Larkana and three from Lahore.

According to the statement, despite the important achievements of the program, the cunning poliovirus remains and finds a way to survive it. The special vaccination campaign was therefore planned in all main reservoirs to permanently eliminate wild poliovirus.

"The Bannu Division is highly sensitive after reporting 50% of polio cases in the country, so it is important to vaccinate every child under five in every polio campaign," said Atta , adding that "given the situation the division is the absolute priority".

"Parents are urged to avoid false propaganda against polio vaccine and vaccinate their children to protect them from poliovirus."

The Pakistani government is striving to hit the virus with force through this special campaign. Its top priority is to reach out to missed children in the central reservoirs by continually improving operations and encouraging front-line polio workers to reach and protect all children missed with the vital polio vaccine.

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus that mainly affects children under five. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. Although poliomyelitis can not be cured, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this debilitating disease. Whenever a child under five is vaccinated, its protection against the virus is enhanced. Repeated vaccinations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost every country in the world to be polio-free. Currently, there are only two countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan – where polio cases are reported.

Posted in Dawn, on June 17, 2019

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