- 5
Tuesday, January 2, 1973
1973 POLIO IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN
First Phase To Be Carried Out This Month
The first phase of the 1973 polio immunisation campaign organized
by the Medical and Health Department will be carried out during the month of
January while the second phase will take place in March.
Polio immunisation has been available since 1963 and has virtually
eliminated poliomyelitis from Hong Kong..
In 1962 before the introduction of polio vaccine, 363 cases with
52 deaths were recorded while in 1972 only five cases with no deaths were
notified.
Despite the greatly improved situation, polio can still pose a threat
to the community and any child who has not yet been immunised should take this
opportunity to receive the vaccine.
Polio vaccine, which is free of charge, is available at all Maternity
and Child Health Centres, Inoculation Ports and Out-Patients Departments.
It must be emphasised that two doses of vaccine are required with
a two-month interval between each dose. One dose of polio vaccine produces
no immunity.
Polio vaccine is very easy to take. For infants drops of the vaccine
are put into the mouth, while with older children the vaccine is given on a
lump of sugar.
/6
+