Sixth round of immunization wraps up Tajikistan’s polio vaccination campaign in 2010

About 2.7 million children under 15 years of age were vaccinated against polio in the sixth round of the national polio immunization campaign in Tajikistan 8-12 November 2010.  This wraps up the country’s polio immunization campaign for 2010. The vaccination was provided free of charge at immunization points located in hospitals, local health centres and schools throughout the country.

The campaign was organized by the Ministry of Health with support of UNICEF, WHO and other international partners to stop a polio outbreak in the country. Vaccine for this new round was provided by the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Japan, Japan Committee “Vaccines for the World’s Children” and UNICEF.

“The previous five rounds of the campaign were successful in bringing down the number of polio cases among Tajikistan’s children,” said Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Representative in Tajikistan. “However, we need to make sure that every child in the country irrespective of where they live receive the life-saving vaccine during this sixth round as well.”

“The National Immunization Days will strengthen the children’s immunity against polio and will effectively protect children’s health against the disease and once again boost the immunity of the children,” noted Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative/Head of WHO Country office in the Republic of Tajikistan. “The sixth round of polio immunization campaign is essential and very important in protecting the children from transmission of the virus”.