Dubai polio vaccination campaign in second stage

DUBAI// Thousands of children under the age of five in Dubai schools are to be enrolled in the second stage of the polio vaccination programme to halt the spread of new cases in the region.
Round two of the national campaign opened on Sunday with parents strongly encouraged to ensure their children receive the preventative step against polio that can cause life long paralysis or death in young children. It will run until January 22.
They are urged to visit either a Dubai Health Authority health centre, or attend schools with a vaccine certified clinic.
The first stage of the campaign took place from November 16 to 27, with 116 schools in Dubai taking part.
Although there are no reported cases of polio in the UAE, Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the DHA highlighted the importance of the campaign.
"We encourage parents and schools to ensure they keep track of the second phase and ensure every child that received the first dose of the vaccine is administered the second dose," she said.
"This is vital to ensure the child receives maximum protection against the disease. Parents are requested to bring their children's polio vaccination card when they visit the health centers.
"Moreover, those children that missed the first dose of the vaccine can also take the second dose, either through the school clinics or through any of DHA's primary healthcare centres."
The programme for this year has taken on extra significance as once polio free countries nearby to the UAE have reported new cases of the disease in 2013-14.
A widespread uptake of the vaccination here will stop further spread of the disease in its tracks, it is hoped. It is administered via oral droplets and complies with all World Health Organisation guidelines.
Dr Fatma Al Olama, head of school health, primary healthcare sector at the DHA, added: "Parents need to ensure both the doses are given for maximum protection against the disease. All 14 primary healthcare centres and Hatta hospital's childcare clinic are providing the vaccine so parents can go to the closest health centre to vaccinate their children.
"This campaign is open to all and is free-of-charge. No medical insurance or health card is necessary. It doesn't matter if your child is a visitor, citizen or resident."
For more information on the campaign and the included centres, call the ministry's toll-free number 800-11111 or visit their website at http://www.moh.gov.ae.
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