Polio vaccination in full swing

Talent Gore

THE third round of the Polio Vaccination Programme will begin today and end on Friday.

The programme, which is being held in partnership with Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and UNITAID-FIND, is targeting all children under five years, regardless of vaccination status.

Israel Makwara, Harare City’s principal health promotions officer, indicated that the vaccination campaign would be a door-to-door initiative intended to reach as many children as possible.

Makwara added that both the first and second rounds of the vaccination programmes were successful, with 96 percent of children vaccinated nationally, 95 percent in Harare during round one, and a success rate of 108 percent during round two.

“For the third round we are expecting to go way beyond that. We are hopeful that all systems will be in place for the vaccination to commence.

“We are sure that the vaccination would have happened in those four days to make sure that any child below the age of five years gets the vaccine.

“There will be transit teams moving around vaccinating kids that are eligible,” Makwara said.