The National Immunisation Plus Days Against Polio will Commence in Anambra State on Saturday, 29th January 2022 to end next week Tuesday, 1st February 2022.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, disclosed this during a press briefing organized by the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency ahead of the National Immunization Plus Days
The Health Commissioner assured that no Anambra Child will be missed as the effort is to protect them from the ravaging impact of poliovirus.
He expressed the State Government’s commitment towards protecting the children of the State from poliovirus and contributing to sustaining the polio-free status of the country.
The Commissioner cautioned that poliovirus has no cure, causes lifelong paralysis and may lead to death in some cases, advising that the only solution against the disease is to give children two drops of the oral polio vaccine to protect them from the viral disease.
Dr Okpala also explained that the vaccine is even more important at this time when three hundred and ninety-five cases of the Circulating Mutant Poliovirus type two have been reported across twenty-seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, which were caused by immunity gaps in children.
The Health Commissioner informed that those eligible for the Immunization are Children between zero to fifty-nine months irrespective of previous immunization status while outlining that other antigens that will be given according to schedule and status include HBV 0, BCG, Inactivated Polio Vaccine, Pentavalent vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Measles vaccine, Yellow fever vaccine, Meningitis vaccine, Vitamin A Supplementation, and Tetanus-Diphtheria which will be administered to pregnant women and women of childbearing age.
Earlier in an opening remark, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, emphasized that every child is targeted to be reached in the exercise, stressing that no child should be missed.
The National Immunization Plus Days are themed “Keep Polio at Zero.”
