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Polio Immunization

Polio Immunization
Polio Immunization

Annually, 1.5 million children in Iran are vaccinated against polio, said Dr. Mohsen Zahraei, head of Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases Department at the Health Ministry.

According to the ‘National Immunization Program’ all newborns should receive polio vaccine four times starting at two months, besides the other necessary vaccines, ISNA quoted him as saying.

From the current week, all babies will receive injectable vaccine in health centers instead of oral vaccine, he said, adding that injectable vaccine is one of the safest with no adverse reactions.

“Also, the vaccine is highly effective in preventing paralytic attacks that may be caused by all three types of poliovirus.”

The injectable vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is five times more expensive than oral polio vaccine.

“The government and Health Ministry have provided the needed funding for the vaccine import from the Netherlands.”

Zahraei said plans are afoot for domestic production of the vaccine in the near future with the help of Pasteur Institute of Iran and Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute.

All babies will receive free polio vaccine from the age of two months at all health centers.

Financialtribune.com