Mr Peter Ofori Tweneboah, Western Regional Coordinator, Expanded Programme on Immunization, has advised parents and guardians to ensure that their children are vaccinated before age one.

"Continue routine immunization till the child is five years old to protect him or her against poliomyelitis", he said.

Mr Tweneboah was speaking at a press briefing on the second round of the National Immunization Days (NIDs) campaign for the Western Region in Takoradi on Wednesday.

He explained that the vaccine is free and the teams for the exercise will move from house to house to give the vaccine and administer Vitamin A to children between six months and 59 months from Friday 23rd -25th April 2010.

According to him, the teams would also go to lorry stations, markets, Police barriers as well as static centres at all government health facilities in the region.

He noted that the vaccine, given orally, makes children strong by protecting their immune system.

Mr Tweneboah pointed out that during the round one of the exercise which was held from the 5th-7th March 2010, the regional target of 531,832 was exceeded at the end of the exercise at 542,511.

He revealed that no district recorded vaccine and logistics shortage during the round one of the exercise.

Mr Tweneboah urged the media to give free air time to health personnel to talk about the campaign and other health issues.

He urged individuals, organizations and philanthropists to help mobilize resources for the campaign because donor partners alone cannot shoulder all the demands of the campaign.


Source: GNA