In a decisive move to combat the threat of polio, Dr. Michael Tidi, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, officially commenced the Polio Outbreak Response 2 Vaccination Campaign on Monday.
Addressing the audience during the formal launch, Dr. Tidi underscored the severity of Poliomyelitis, emphasizing its disabling and life-threatening nature, with prevention hinging solely on safe and effective vaccination.
Dr. Tidi called upon all parents in the council to seize the opportunity and ensure children under the age of 5 receive immunization throughout the four-day campaign.
Highlighting the ongoing challenges, he expressed concern about the outbreaks of the circulating variant Polio virus type 2 (CVPV2) in Nigeria. He stressed that lack of immunization against all types of Polio virus or residing in affected areas increases the risk for children.
Providing crucial information, Dr. Tidi emphasized the effectiveness of multiple Polio vaccine doses in providing lifelong protection, especially for children under 5, as 1 in 200 infections could result in irreversible paralysis.
The Chairman urged parents to prioritize the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and the Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) for the best protection of their children and communities. Stressing the importance of maintaining high routine childhood immunization coverage, Dr. Tidi emphasized its critical role in ensuring the safety of every child in Nigeria from Polio infection.
