​Second round of Polio and Measles Campaign 2007

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To: All Media
Date: 16 July 2007

Second round of Polio and Measles Campaign 2007

South Africa conducted the first round of the National Polio and Measles Immunisation campaign from 05th - 13th May 2007. The second round campaign, which was postponed due to the public sector strike, will take place from 21st - 29th July 2007. During the second round of the campaign, children under the age of five years will be given booster doses of polio immunisation that will provide them with additional protection against the Polio virus.

Polio campaigns can be seen as one of the key interventions towards achieving the global eradication of Polio. According to the World Health Organisation at least 90% of children need to be immunised during a campaign to achieve population immunity, which will protect children at risk from any circulating wild polio viruses.

During the first round of the campaign in May 2007 the City Of Johannesburg achieved 90% coverage, however, two doses of the polio vaccine needs to be given to all children to achieve population immunity.

Prior to the introduction of Polio campaigns in 1988, 350 000 children were diagnosed globally with Polio on an annual basis. In 2006 only four countries remained endemic for the spread of wild poliovirus i.e. Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Unfortunately as long as there is ongoing transmission of polio virus in some countries importation of cases from other countries into SA cannot be prevented. A number of countries experienced importation over the last 3 years such as Angola and Namibia. South Africa therefore remains at a significantly high risk due to a large number of travelers and immigrants from countries that are still endemic and from those countries that are experiencing outbreaks from importations.

Sadly, there are persons that regard immunisation campaigns as a wasteful exercise especially when children are already fully immunised for age according to the national immunisation schedule. However, during mass immunisation campaigns doses of polio vaccines are given to all children in a defined age group over a short period of time regardless of their immunisation status.

The City of Johannesburg Health Department apologises for the inconvenience caused by the postponement, but urges parents, caregivers and the general public to support this effort to protect our children by bringing children to their nearest clinics or health facilities for immunisation during the week of 21st- 29th July 2007.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Officer
City of Johannesburg Health Department
Telephone: (011) 407 - 6477
Cell: 083 408 7787
Fax: (011) 339 - 1443
E-mail: nkosinathin@joburg.org.za
Website: http://www.joburg.org.za/