Polio Vaccination to Continue in Kitgum Until all Children are Covered

Kitgum District health department is continuing with the mass polio vaccination to cover sub-counties that did not meet their target.

Kitgum District had a target of 48,309 children under five to be vaccinated against polio type two during the first phase of the nationwide mass vaccination campaign which was scheduled to last three days from January 14 to January 16.

However, the Ministry of Health said there were few vaccine carriers to safely transport vaccines to all places, resulting in a three-day extension which ended yesterday, January 19.  But the acting District Health Officer Dr Henry Okello says that although the district passed the target and vaccinated 48,393 children under five, their mop-up exercise will continue until all children are vaccinated.   

//Cue in; “We are still…  

Cue out…also went there.”//

Dr Okello adds that the district performed at 100.2 per cent, which is above the target in some sub-counties, Namukora Town Council, Kitgum Matidi, Mucwini West and Labongo Akwang, did not meet the target. He explains that some parents hid their children on claims that they suffered adverse side effects during previous vaccination.

//Cue in; “We had a number of children…

Cue out…and they handled.”//

Dr Okello attributed the low vaccine coverage in some counties to an attitude problem, strong belief in herbs, economic problems and the fact that many farmers went far in the gardens to harvest crops.

//Cue in; “Like for instance…

Cue out… in our communities.”//

Dr Okello says in areas where the locals have a negative attitude towards vaccines, they are using local leaders to first have a dialogue with the locals to change the mind of the population.

//Cue in; “We are working with…

Cue out…can come closer.”//

In an interview prior to the vaccination campaign, Dr Okello appealed to all parents and caretakers to ensure that their children are vaccinated. He says the safety of the vaccine is evidenced by the few children who are crippled now, compared to decades ago when there were no mass vaccinations.