Antipolio drive for needy infants

JAKARTA (JP): Polio vaccination posts are to be set up soon across the capital: in markets, supermarkets, railway stations, airports and hotels, to serve 972,000 needy infants, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday.

The vaccination service, which will be provided free of charge on Sept. 2 and Oct. 7, is a part of the national campaign to eradicate polio, he said. The first round was held in 1995 and the second in 1996.

"We have prepared more than 1.3 million doses of polio vaccine," Surjadi said.

He said the vaccination posts would be open from 8 a.m. until the vaccination was completed.

"For those people who cannot bring their under-fives at these hours, vaccination officers are ready to be invited to go to their homes," Surjadi said.

Chickenpox vaccinations will also be available in 68 subdistricts where infants are considered to be at particular risk from the disease. (ste)