By Odoemelem Judith Oluomachukwu and Onyewuizu Munachimso Mary
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs Happiness Aguluonu has described the recently concluded Immunization of children, between 0-59 months with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in Abia State as a huge success .”she added that vaccinators were sent to schools, churches and markets to vaccinate children with the OPV which prevents poliomyelitis that causes paralysis in children.
She said that “though Nigeria has been certified polio free, there is a recent discovery that the circulation of polio disease is in the environment which has led to the recent proactive response/campaign.
She decried the noncompliance experienced in the certain quarters if Abia State adding that it was propelled by misinformation that polio vaccines are modified Covid-19 vaccines.
The State Immunization officer further lamented that vaccinators were physically assaulted in the the cause of vaccinating children, insisting that schools in Abia recorded highest level of noncompliance.
She commended religious bodies for their high level of compliance as well as other partners like World Health Organization (WHO), Unified Nations International Children’s Emergency Funds ( UNICEF) and Abia State Universal Basic Education (ASUBEB) for coming to their aid to resolve grey areas.
Health report recently gathered revealed that Nigeria had three cases of circulating vaccine derived type 2 (CVDPV2); one in Yobe and two in Jigawa bring the number of 2021 cases to eleven. There were also eight cases reported in 2020.
According to International Health Regulators (IHR), Nigeria is classified as a State infected with CVDPV2 with potential risk of international spread and thus; subjected to temporary recommendations as of May 2021.
Meanwhile WHO’s International Travel and Health recommends that all travellers to polio affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than 4 weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OVP inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) within 4 weeks to 12 months of travel.
