If you wish to visit Pakistan, Afghanistan and five other countries, polio vaccination will be a must or one might not be allowed board flight to his destination, says a new advisory issued by the Centre to all district headquarters.
The other five countries in the list are Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Syria.
The Indian state health department has sent a letter to all civil surgeons informing them about the appointment of district immunisation officers as nodal officer for polio vaccination for international travellers.
District immunisation officers will deputed for administering polio drops to travellers and they will also issue certification as prescribed by the Centre. The advisory will also cover the residents of these seven countries if they want to come to India.
The travellers will have to get certificate from the health authorities in their own country and they will be administered polio drops at the border or at entry points.
The advisory has been issued by government to keep the country polio-free.
According to available information, experts had found that Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan were fighting with polio and hence travellers to these countries will be immunised by the health department.
The polio virus was taken to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Syria which were earlier polio-free countries. The letter further reads that the ministry of external affairs has already issued directions to heads of Indian mission to ensure vaccination of travellers from these countries.
“The information has been circulated to all primary health centres, community health centres and other subsidiary health centres in the district,” the district immunisation officer said.