ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):National Emergency Operations Centre for the Polio Programme on Tuesday said that the polio vaccine being used in Pakistan is safe and as per standard of World Health Organization (WHO).
According to an official of National Emergency Operations Centre for the Polio Programme, parents should administer polio vaccine to their children without any fear with an objective to protect their children from the crippling disease of polio.
Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for the Polio Programme, Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar stressed the importance of civil society, religious scholars and media in promoting the norm of vaccination.
“Parents should cooperate with polio workers and administer their children with anti-polio drops – which will ultimately help save them from a lifetime of disability,” he said.
He explained that polio is caused by the poliovirus and the affected children can be paralyzed for life.
He said there is no cure for polio, but prevention through immunization can reduce the chances of contracting the virus. He added multiple vaccinations are critical in safeguarding children from the virus.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Babar Bin Atta said “The country now has one of the best opportunities to stop transmission of the poliovirus.”
He said “It is high time that we all gear up to collectively fight the virus and provide support to our brave frontline workers so that they can reach and vaccinate every single Pakistani child.”
He added that, “challenges remain in fully eradicating the virus, however, the federal and provincial governments stay firmly committed to defeating the virus forever.”
He expressed the hope that all segments of society will come forward to support the programme during the final push against polio.
He said that Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of ten years.
He said the disease invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease.
He said that each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunizations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio free, he added.
