Polio vaccination reaches over 95%

JAKARTA: Despite heavy rain and the enormous logistical difficulties in reaching 24 million children across the country, the third round of a polio vaccination drive targeting children under five successfully reached over 95 percent, WHO and UNICEF said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

Figures from the week-long campaign, which started on Nov. 30, are expected to rise as data continues to arrive from outlying provinces.

WHO representative for polio eradication David Heymann welcomed the progress, and said that the government was committed to mobilize resources for two additional rounds in late January and late February 2006.

"If two more quality rounds of vaccination are conducted early next year, Indonesia should be free of polio in 2006," Heymann said. The first and second round of polio vaccinations were held in June and September respectively, in a bid to curb the spread of the crippling disease, which reemerged in the country in May after having been absent for a decade. -- JP