Last call for polio vaccination

By LULU MARK
A LOT of mothers are not taking their children under a year old to be vaccinated in the nation’s capital, which is a serious concern, according to officials.
The National Capital District health services (NCDHS) director of public health Dr Niko Wuatai said it was important for parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated before the end of the campaign on Wednesday.
Wuatai said the integrated measles-rubella and polio vaccination teams were doing mop-up campaigns this week and were looking for children that missed out on vaccination in the last two weeks.
“We would like to make a last-minute appeal to the parents and guardians around the city to please bring your children to be vaccinated,” he said.
Regarding the oral polio vaccination (OPV) for children from birth to five years, the target for NCD was 66,379.
However he said 54,292 were vaccinated so the coverage was 82 per cent.
In terms of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination for children between ages six months and five years, the target was 59,267. However, Wuatai said 49,642 children were vaccinated – hence the coverage of 84 per cent.
He said although they were nearing 100 per cent coverage: “I am a little bit concerned that we may not reach our target so that is the reason we are making this appeal.”
Wuatai said 407 volunteers were engaged in the campaign and NCD had 71 teams with more than 71 vaccination sites accessible to the communities.
“If you do not meet our teams, bring your child to the urban clinics,” he said.
He said the number of children vaccinated in the community was related to the chances of outbreak.
Wuatai added that the NCDHS would like the polio transmission to be stopped and outbreak of measles, rubella to be prevented and reach 100 per cent coverage in this campaign.
Vaccination coordinator for Port Moresby North West Esther Pinga said they were concerned for the babies under one.