Second Dose Of Polio Vaccination Commences At Healthcare Centres In Anambra State

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The Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib has asked caregivers in Anambra State to ensure they take their children and wards who are under the age of two to partake in the second dose of Inactivated polio vaccine, otherwise known as IPV2, as the exercise has commenced in all the primary health care centers in the State.

Dr Shuaib made the call in Awka during a meeting with stakeholders drawn from faith based and media organizations, traditional rulers, community leaders, policy and implementation stakeholders on the introduction of the second dose of the in-activated polio vaccine.

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Correspondent, David Okpokwasilib reports that the meeting is ahead of the intensified IPV2 exercise going on at health centers that started yesterday and will last till August second.

Dr Shuaib who was represented by NPHCDA Monitor from Abuja, Mrs Grace Samson said the meeting is to ensure that the newly introduced vaccine is widely accepted as it is important to ensure total eradication of polio disease.

He explained that initially, the inactivated polio vaccine is given at fourteen weeks but with the introduction of IPV2, the first dose will now be inoculated at six weeks while the second dose will now come at fourteen weeks, while those who had taken the first dose at fourteen weeks will now take the second dose eight weeks after the first dose.

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Dr Shuaib also added that the second dose is to intensify the exercise through routine Immunization to sustain the efforts and successes recorded against polio in the country.

The Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Placid Uliagbafusi, said the vaccination is very important to ensure that polio never returns to the country as well as to boost immunity.     .

The meeting also featured lectures by the State Health Educator, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Uju Onwugbuesi and interaction on issues about the introduction of the IPV2.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the Anambra State Coordinator, NPHCDA, Mr Obioha Agbakwuru, the State Director, National Orientation Agency, Barrister Charles Nworji, State Immunization Officer, Mrs Nkechi Onwugbunka, and the Traditional ruler of Ukwalla, in Anambra West Local Government Area, Igwe Joseph Ajudu, members of the Red Cross Society, Rotary International and many other stakeholders.

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