Polio Immunisation successful

Story: Augustina Tawiah

The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, has described as very successful the two rounds of nationwide polio immunisation organised for children under five years in the first quarter of this year.
He explained that in the first round, organised from February 12 to 14, 4,807,262 children were immunised as against the targeted 4,836,337.
The second round which was organised from March 26 to 29 had 5,007,789 children immunised as against the expected 4,807,262.
The Antwi-Agyei attributed the success of the campaign to the intensive awareness created. “Parents have also become more aware of the relevance of immunisation and were therefore bringing their children to be immunised,” he added.
The EPI programme manager, however, said despite the nationwide success, some districts had low coverage, adding that they were expecting 90 to 95 per cent coverage in all the districts.
The districts that recorded low coverage included Ashiedu Keteke in the Greater Accra Region with less than 80 per cent coverage in the first round of immunisation. In the second round, Sunyani West in the Brong Ahafo Region had 72.5 per cent; Talensi Nabdam in the Upper East Region, 67.1 per cent and Ketu in the Volta Region, 63.3 per cent.
Afram Plains and Ayawaso, in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, respectively had between 80 per cent and 90 per cent coverage.
He said the low coverage in those districts meant that the children were not completely covered which rendered them susceptible to the disease.
On the next line of action, Dr Antwi-Agyei said “We are still not safe. That is why we have to do another round of immunisation from May 28 to 30, 2009.”
He explained that the disease was still spreading in other West African countries with 843 recorded last year in the sub region.
Dr Antwi-Agyei assured parents that getting extra doses of the polio vaccine was not injurious to children, “Rather, they offer better protection against the disease”.