Anti-polio drive exceeds target<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The polio immunization drive exceeded 100
\npercent of its target here Tuesday, an official at the city's
\nhealth agency said.<\/p>\n
The drive vaccinated 969,833 children, five years and under,
\nor 101.9 percent of the 951,900 infants targeted, the agency's
\npublic relations officer, Mariani, said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The agency's head, Asman Lasman, said earlier that this year's
\nprojections would be more accurate than last year's, when the
\ngovernment launched its first anti-polio drive for infants.<\/p>\n
Last year, 980,304 infants were vaccinated, or 105 percent of
\nthe agency's projection. This caused vaccine shortages at
\nimmunization centers.<\/p>\n
Mariani told The Jakarta Post that the higher-than-expected
\nfigure may have come from immunization centers at bus terminals,
\ntrain stations and the airport which all serve passengers from
\noutside the city.<\/p>\n
"Although we record the number of infants in each province, it
\nis the responsibility of each immunization post to provide the
\nvaccine to any passing infant," she said.<\/p>\n
The post at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport vaccinated
\n146 infants, she said, quoting reports from the health agency's
\nWest Jakarta office.<\/p>\n
Details on the number of foreigners vaccinated are available
\nat the agency's district offices.<\/p>\n
Anticipation of extra vaccinations has improved, she said:
\n"None of the posts ran out of vaccine because we provided up to
\n25 percent more than the projected supply required."<\/p>\n
Asman said that 146,320 containers of vaccine were supplied
\nfor this year's drive. Each container holds vaccine for up to 20
\ninfants, he said.<\/p>\n
The number of children vaccinated may increase on Oct. 15, the
\nsecond day of this year's anti-polio drive, but Mariani doubted
\nthat the increase would be significant.<\/p>\n
The anti-polio drive aims to eradicate polio by the year 2000.
\nThe third round will be held next year. (anr)<\/p>",
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