Over 40mn children receive anti-polio doses in Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan 20 (IANS) More than 40 million children in Pakistan under the age of five years received vaccination during the latest nationwide anti-polio campaign.A total of 2,87,000 frontline polio workers were deployed across the country for door-to-door vaccination, observing strict standard operating procedures in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the Dawn reported. Around 32 million children were given vitamin A supplements during the campaign.National Coordinator for the Polio Eradication Initiative and Expanded Programme of Immunisation Dr Rana Mohammad Safdar said in a statement that the fight against poliovirus was rejuvenated through the delivery of successful polio campaigns last year."Thanks to our frontline workers for their dedication and commitment to reach every households with life-saving vaccine during the first nationwide campaign this year. Despite harsh weather, with the support of the parents, partners and security forces, the programme has managed to implement the campaign successfully," he said.
--IANS int/rs