Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday adjourned hearing of plea against administration of substandard oral polio vaccine (OPV) to children till July 19.
The CJ also sought samples of ice box and vaccine vial monitor used for carrying OPV, on next date of hearing.
The CJ was hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Suleman, a Vaccinator in City District Government Lahore, seeking directions for a judicial inquiry after holding that Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) was not properly provided to children, according to international standards.
Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel arguing before the court submitted that out of 150 union councils in Lahore, 32 did not have refrigerators to store the polio vaccine.
He said that many other union councils in Lahore also lack of storage facility.
He submitted that if it was condition of facilities in Lahore then the court imagine situation in far flang areas of the province.
However, a law officer on behalf of Punjab government opposed the contentions raised by the petitioner’s counsel. The court after hearing the arguments adjourned the matter till July 19 and sought samples of ice box and vaccine vial monitor, on next date of hearing.
The petitioner, in his petition, contended that standard of OPV at union council level was not according to international standard. The petitioner further said that the vaccine must be distributed at union council level of zero stage to get 100 percent results, the counsel said and added that although OPV of stage-2 was acceptable at distribution level but not at union level.
