XN000022-1975-03-01 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1975

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ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY LAUNCHED ANOTHER MONTH-LONG ANTI-POL 10 CAMPAIGN TO +MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF IMMUNITY AGAINST THE DISEASE+.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH POLIOMYELITIS HAD NOW BEEN VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VACCINE IN 1963, THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY,

HE FELT THAT DESPITE THIS GREATLY IMPROVED SITUATION, POL IOMYELITIS STILL POSED A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE CURRENT DRIVE IS THE SECOND IN THE DEPARTMENT'S 1975 ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME, THE FIRST BEING IN JANUARY WHEN 26,300 DOSES OF THE VACCINE WERE ADMINISTERED. OF THE TOTAL, 6,927 WERE FIRST-DOSE, 9,228 SECOND-DOSE, 10,775 BOOSTER-DOŠE.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT FOR A CHILD TO BE IMMUNISED THREE DOSES OF VACCINE WERE REQUIRED WITH AN EIGHT-WEEK INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FIRST. AND SECOND DOSES. A THIRD DOSE SHOULD BE TAKEN A YEAR LATER.

THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH, POLIO VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL GOVERNMENT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, INOCULATION POSTS AND GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED PARENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FACILITIES AND TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IMMUNISED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HE EXPLAINED THAT POLIO VACCINE WAS, IN FACT, AVAILABLE FREE AT ALL MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

CENTRES AND INOCULATION POSTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND THE CAMPAIGNS CARRIED OUT EACH YEAR WERE INTENDED TO REMIND PARENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE SO THAT THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICE,

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