Government considers another anti-polio drive in November
Government considers another anti-polio drive in November
Agencies, Jakarta
The government hopes to hold another polio immunization drive in
November to stamp out the disease, a health official said on
Wednesday, a day after launching a program to vaccinate millions
of children for the second time this year.
There have been 240 polio cases in Indonesia since May, when
the crippling disease re-emerged after being eradicated from the
world's fourth most populous country a decade ago.
In the two rounds of immunization so far, Indonesia has
targeted around 24 million children across the vast archipelago.
The campaign followed two smaller programs in West Java, where
the disease was first found, and in two adjacent provinces.
"We are still discussing (the possibility). We are awaiting
the results of the last immunization drive," Minister of Health
Siti Fadilah Supari told AFP.
A Health Ministry official said that, although Tuesday's
program had been a success, Indonesia needed to carry out one
more round to finally wipe out the water-borne disease that can
cause irreversible paralysis within hours.
"This second round will take a week ... but on this second day
we have already received reports (of) reaching around 70 percent.
We are optimistic," said Jane Soepardi, the ministry's head of
immunization.
Asked about the World Health Organization's advice to hold a
third round of national polio vaccinations this year, Soepardi
said: "In November. The sooner the better."
"However, it depends on the supply of resources, vaccines and
funding," she told Reuters.
The immunization program thus far has cost US$24 million.
Around one million people are employed for each nationwide polio
drive. The workers visit homes to ensure children go to the
neighborhood immunization posts on the day of the vaccination
program.
The country reported its last case of polio on Aug. 14, but so
far this year nobody stricken with the disease has died.
The global battle against polio has faced setbacks in the past
two years since Nigeria's northern state of Kano banned
immunization out of fear it could cause sterility or spread
HIV/AIDS. Vaccinations resumed after a 10-month ban.
But the virus spread across Africa, crossed the Red Sea into
Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and reached Indonesia, infecting
previously polio-free countries along the way.
WHO says 19 countries have been reinfected with polio in the
last two years.
Neighboring countries in Southeast Asia have also been
conducting immunization programs.