Pakistan restarts polio immunization

Discussions about serious topics, for serious people
Post Reply
bmforre
Snowbonk
Posts: 504
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:15 pm
Location: Trondheim

Pakistan restarts polio immunization

Post by bmforre » Mon Jul 20, 2020 1:12 pm

WaPo has just reported under Immunization news:
Pakistan plans to immunize 800,000 children against polio in the next five days, as the country restarts a vaccination drive that was canceled earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Vaccinators will wear full protective equipment to avoid spreading or catching the coronavirus while administering immunization drops, Reuters reported Monday. Even without the threat of coronavirus, vaccinators in Pakistan face other dangers. In 2019, six vaccinators or their guards were shot dead in a matter of three weeks. Dozens of other polio workers have also been killed in recent years. Some violence against vaccinators stems from fears that vaccinations will actually harm children.
This is needed:
Polio is still endemic in Pakistan, and although immunization campaigns brought the country close to eradicating the virus in 2017 and 2018, a resurgence of cases in 2019 slashed hopes for complete elimination. At least 60 cases have been confirmed in Pakistan so far this year.

Post Reply