Global polio eradication organizations have urged Pakistan to “do more,” prompting the government to take a major decision to control the virus.
According to details, in response to the demands of global polio eradication bodies, the government has decided to administer injectable polio vaccines (IPV) to children in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
Sources from the polio program revealed that the injectable vaccine will be administered to children up to the age of 15 during a special campaign. The IPV shots will be given in phases over the next four months.
The sources added that children from the age of one day to 15 years will be given the IPV to strengthen their immunity. The injectable polio vaccine will act as a booster dose and significantly enhance children’s immunity.
There are concerns that children’s immunity against polio may be weakening, which has contributed to the increased spread of the virus. The IPV is expected to help effectively stop the transmission of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1).
The vaccines for the IPV campaign will be provided by global organizations. The recommendation to administer inactivated polio vaccine injections was made by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).
The TAG held its meeting last week in Islamabad, during which it recommended IPV shots for children up to 15 years old. The group serves as an independent global board for Pakistan and Afghanistan, offering technical support and advice on polio eradication.
It is worth mentioning that the Technical Advisory Group comprises global polio experts and has previously advised that, during 2018-19, oral polio drops were given to children up to the age of 10 in specific districts.
