Egypt has launched on Sunday a four-day, nationwide vaccination campaign against the Poliovirus targeting 16.7 million children under the age of five after Polio cases were detected in some neighboring countries, Africa and the East Mediterranean.
Minister of Health Hala Zayed said Egypt obtained 38.2 million doses of the oral Sabin vaccine, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, to boost children's immunity against the Poliovirus in order to keep the country Polio-free.
Polio cases have been detected in recent months in several countries including South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia and Cameroon.
In 2006, UNICEF declared Egypt Polio-free, two years after the last case was detected in the country.
The national campaign, which will last until 3 March, is targeting 100 percent of the Egyptian and non-Egyptian children under the age of five in the country, Zayed said.
The vaccine will be administered by medical teams at more than 5,400 health centers nationwide as well as teams stationed at large squares, train and metro stations, around mosques and churches, in sporting clubs, markets, and at bus stops and via vehicles, Zayed noted.
In villages, medical teams will visit homes to ensure the children targeted in the campaign are vaccinated.
Children can take a first dose of the Sabin vaccine in the next four days from 8am to 5pm, and a second one a month later, Zayed added.
As many as 90,000 medical personnel are taking part in the campaign.
The ministry has also prepared 2,000 ambulances and 800 other vehicles to reach remote areas in the country.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
