Polio vaccination drive kicked off in twin cities

News Desk

Islamabad/Rawalpindi: A polio vaccination drive kicked off in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday followed by another drive to administer the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine to children by the end of this month in Garrison city.

Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon on Monday inaugurated the anti-polio campaign in Islamabad by administering polio vaccine drops to children under five at an inaugural ceremony while Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Marzia Saleem inaugurated the drive at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry office.

Speaking on the occasion, ADC Marzia directed officials concerned to cover refusal and non-attended children on a daily basis. She said no polio case had been detected in the district for over a decade due to frequent drives launched by the district administration, but there was a need to remain attentive, she added.

The administrator informed that as many as 917,285 children under five years of age would be administered polio vaccine during the week-long drive while the security of polio workers must be ensured.

Over 3,000 polio teams, 396 areas in-charges, and 204 medical officers are participating in the campaign.  In addition, children would also be immunized at 307 fixed centers and 182 transit points in the district. The drive is also being utilized to create awareness about Covid-19 and anti-dengue preventive measures.

Meanwhile, over 1,100 security officials have been deployed in the district to ensure the security of anti-polio staff performing duties during the campaign.  The deployed officials will provide security to 858 polio teams during the anti-polio campaign in Rawalpindi.

Moreover, the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has also urged the parents to cooperate with the anti-polio vaccination teams.

Over 400,000 children under five years would be administered polio drops in Islamabad, the deputy commissioner said while talking to the state-run news agency in Islamabad on Monday.

Irfan Nawaz said all the assistant commissioners were tasked to inspect the performance of polio workers and health teams participating in the drive at various places in the Capital city.

“Every child under the age of five would be administered polio drops,” APP quoted the DC.

The Capital administrator has appealed to the parents to cooperate with the polio teams in administering drops to their children for their healthy life and for making Pakistan a polio-free country.

Meanwhile, the assistant commissioner city visited various assembly points of polio teams in Sector-F-7, whereas the assistant commissioner Shalimar directed the teams in his jurisdiction to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures.

The assistant commissioner (Sadar) also inspected teams deputed in the areas of Sector I-10, directing them to cover refusal cases on priority.